From Sir,with Love…

Perhaps it is the only one-of-its-kind in the city that cares for the underprivileged: Rabibul Khan,Biswajit Mondal,Raju Mondal,Prasentjit Mondal are children of rickshaw-pullers and factory workers. They can barely manage a ticket for a tennis match,let alone play the game. The JMTA has adopted them all.

The reason? Jaidip Mukherjea explains: “They have the talent but don’t have the means to pursue a career in tennis. It’s still an expensive sport by any Indian standards. We have adopted them,provided them with kits,shelter and are looking after their studies so that they can concentrate fully on tennis. It’s a kind of payback to the game that has given me so much”.

“Without Jaidip Sir,we wouldn’t have been here. We definitely owe a lot to him,” gushes eight-year-old Rabibul with gratitude to his mentor.

“We have become a part of his family. All I can say is that my life has taken a turn for the better after I was spotted by him,” says Biswajit.

Raju and Prasenjit go one step further in describing “Jaidip Sir’s role” in shaping their career. “I was a little boy when I came here. At that time even holding a tennis racquet was like a dream come true. I never imagined I would be allowed so much space here. Thanks to Sir,now I can dream big,” Raju says. Prasenjit adds,“Without him,I might have been toiling for 12 hours a day as a labourer. I took to tennis after watching Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi on the telly. But never did I think that I would actually get a chance to play the game.”

When Mukherjea first thought of setting up a tennis academy,his idea was to take the game outside the elite clubs of the city. “Till then,tennis was basically confined to South Club and a few other clubs where black tie used to be a di rigeur. I wanted to take the game to the middle-class and the lower middle-class. I think,I have succeeded in my mission,” says Mukherjea.

The JMTA teaches the basics of tennis at the grassroots level. There are three top-class courts and six coaches,including Mukherjea. Coaching is given in two sessions everyday at a nominal fee. The academy that came up ten years ago,has now more than 150 trainees.

“Actually our objective is to work as a supply line. After learning the basics,the trainees are usually roped in by the Bengal Tennis Association (BTA) which helps them grow for the next level. Our work has been recognised by the All India Tennis Association (AITA). For the sixth year running,JMTA has been bestowed with the responsibility of hosting an international men’s Future’s tournament,” Mukherjea says.

The academy is contemplating a tie-up with Nick Bollettieri’s tennis academy in the United States that has churned out masters like Andre Agassi and Monica Seles.

“We have begun talks. Let’s see if things materialise.”

What about Kolkata? “The situation is bleak,to be honest. Kolkata used to be the nursery of Indian tennis. Now,it is languishing at the bottom. Maybe,the present generation is more comfortable watching matches on the telly rather than playing the game. This is true for every sport with perhaps Sourav Ganguly being an exception. The education system here also doesn’t encourage youngsters to consider sports as a profession,” Mukherjea rues.

Mukherjea was a very capable singles player and one of the world’s best doubles players during his prime. He also managed the Indian Davis Cup team as its non-playing captain. But it seems it is Mukherjea,the coach-cum-administrator,who has served the ultimate ace.