An opportunity well taken

PUNE, June 3: She smiles sweetly and proudly acknowledges, I finally have a chance to play abroad. There are no big tournaments here in th...

PUNE, June 3: She smiles sweetly and proudly acknowledges, 8220;I finally have a chance to play abroad. There are no big tournaments here in the country. Everyone is looking to play abroad, but not everybody gets a chance.8221; With the International Tennis Federation ITF acting tough about allotting the proposed eight ITF junior tournaments to the All India Tennis Association AITA, the year has turned out to be a drag for the players.

With an almost dry calender in tennis for the current year, the junior players in the country are left at their own mercy 8211; with only practice sessions but no tournaments to play in. Around this time last year, there were three big tourneys 8212; Maharashtra State Hard Court Mumbai, Mumbai Hard Court Mumbai and the Rs 2.5 lakh Western India tournament Pune, the most popular tournament of the year.

Due to this sudden change, the players are being forced to play abroad, which a very few can actually afford to do.

Stutti Smit is one such girl from the city, who, having the hunger to participate in more and more competitive tournaments, has planned out a two month tour to the United Kingdom to participate in the ITF Junior World Ranking grass court tournaments.

8220;It8217;s a good opportunity to get into the world junior ranking list,8221; says a relaxed Stutti while confidently asserting that, 8220;I will put in all my best this time, since such chances do not come too often.quot; The 18-year-old lass, presently being groomed under the able guidance of Hemant Bendrey at the PYC Hindu Gymkhana, will leave on June 7 from Mumbai and will play the qualifying rounds of the two ITF Junior World Ranking meets Grade 2 from June 13 and Grade 1 from June 19, at Thames Ditton, Surrey and Roehampton, London, respectively.

Stutti, who is listed as 26th in the AITA8217;s women8217;s ranking and 23rd in the under-18 lists, would also have a chance to play in the four Women8217;s ITF Circuit tournaments from July 6 to August 3, at Felixstowe, Frinton, Likey and Southsea all in Great Britain, respectively. Besides these, Stutti may make her trip a more memorable one if she gets a chance to play the qualifying rounds of the junior Wimbledon, starting by the end of June. She might be accompanied there by India8217;s number one player Uzma Khan Hyderabad, while two other girls Shruti Dhavan Chandigarh and Karishma Patel Gujrat 8212; are also likely to participate in the other ITF junior tournaments with Stutti.

The girl who took up tennis a little late, at the age of 12, in 1992, will also give a selection trial to a coach at the All England Lawn Tennis Croquer Club, Wimbledon, during her stay in Great Britain. 8220;I agree that the competition will at a higher level. I will be asked to play against the top players of the Club. But I am sure I have a chance,8221; says the determined Stutti. Only time can measure the truth of the words! But one thing is certain. Stutti will return with lots of experience and exposure to international tennis, which will certainly prove helpful in making hers a success story in the sport.