BANGALORE: Mysore will have a presence at Wimbledon when Sagar Kashyap steps into the chair umpire’s role.
The 23-year-old is making a mark in world tennis as much as the celebrated names of Indian tennis. When Kashyap climbs up the high chair, he will not be entering alien environment as he has done quite a few ATP and WTA championships.
In 2009 Kashyap was was assigned to officiate the Wimbledon seniors qualifiers and the Wimbledon juniors main draw the following year. But his career got a boost when the Lawn Tennis Association, the organisers of Wimbledon shortlisted hiom to officiate the seniors main draw. The matches are not assigned yet, but the Mysorean can been seen up to the quarterfinals. Encouraging indeed!
“Its a great experience and also challenging role to officiate in the seniors main draw,” said Kashyap “I have done few senior qualifiers in 2009 and Wimbledon juniors main draw last year so that adds to my confidence,” he said.
Kashyap is no new name in tennis circles as he has seven WTA and ATP championships under his record.
His first international journey began in 2009 when he did the Swedish Open ATP, Swiss Open, Chennai Open, Kingfisher Mumbai Open, WTA Sunfeast Open Kolkota, ATP Qatar and Dubai Open.
As a result of his impressive showing in the Chennai Open this year, Kashyap was was rewarded with the prize assignment of officiating in the seniors main draw. Mohamed el Jennati, a member of the Lawn Tennis Association umpires panel, was impressed by the Mysoreans decision calls.
Asked how he is prepared for the new challenge, Kashyap said his prior international experience will hold him in good stead. “It will be challenging but my previous international assignments will help me in Wimbledon main draw,” pointed Kashyap, an Engineer in Mysore.
A player himself, Kashyap’s loaded Engineering studies forced to him hang up his racquet and don the arbitrators role.
Officiating in Wimbledon is not the ultimate for Kashyap. Ranked in the White Badge, Kashyap will write his exams to qualify into the Bronze Badge and dreams of making it to the Gold Badge too. “I am now in White Badge, I will write the exams for the Bronze Badge and then hope to make it to the Silver and Gold Badge,” he said.
Kashyap, aspires to officiate in all the Grand Slams. “I hope to make it to all the Grand Slams, its difficult but a good show in Wimbledon this year should be good for my future,” he said.
