
NEW DELHI, August 3: The All India Tennis Association AITA has selected five reputed training centres, including the Chennai-based Krishnan Facility and the C G K Bhupathi-run programme in Bangalore, for their decentralised coaching programme being introduced from October 1.
The Krishnan centre of Ramanathan Krishnan and son Ramesh, former Davis Cupper Bhupathi8217;s centre, Akthar Ali centre in Calcutta, the Maharashtra unit8217;s MSLTA Mumbai centre run by Nandan Bal, Gaurav Natekar and Asif Ismail and the Dhaita Academy in Delhi under Balram Singh will induct five selected players from each zone.
AITA secretary Ramesh Desai said today that Rs one lakh per year will be set apart for each child 8212; Rs 60,000 to the respective centre and the remaining portion to the parents to meet cost of special diet and kitting 8212; and the progress of the trainees would be reviewed annually.
The junior development scheme formulated in July by AITA pledges Rs 30 lakh per annum which will enable children in the 12-14 age group pursue specialised coaching at a centre near their homes.
With leading players setting up coaching centres, AITA had decided to utilise them to ensure that children did not suffer from the emotional stress of having to live away from their parents for long periods.
Three boys and two girls 8212; Pratin Parekh, Rohan Gajjar and Sourav Kohli and Iesha Lakhani and Megha Vakharia 8212; have been chosen for Mumbai and names for other centres will be announced soon.