Foreign input needed to boost junior programme

His prayers were answered when he gambled with the 16-year-old Leander Paes in doubles along with Zeeshan Ali in the tie against Japan in Chandigarh in 1990. At 28, Vasudevan played his first live rubber 8212; perhaps the oldest to do so 8212; and when Ali and Paes wrapped up the doubles and the tie, Kumar had stumbled upon Paes, player for the 21st century, by sheer accident.

That, along with another accidental discovery in Mahesh Bhupathi, seems to have propelled Indian tennis through the last decade. Now, on the eve of the millennium, the story hasrewound itself to where it began.

The panic bells have already begun to toll, but isn8217;t it a classic case of waking up a bit too late and realising that the tank is running empty? The success of Paes-Bhupathi, unfortunately, only slowed down the process of spotting and training the next generation.

The All-India Tennis Association8217;s junior programmes, to be run along with the active cooperation of Ramesh Krishnan, Akhtar Ali, Jaidip Mukherjea and others, is hardly a year old. That is too less a time to even figure out how good the juniors are, or will be. Which means that the intervening years between 1990-99 were spent on that disastrous concept called academies.

The merits of the junior programme notwithstanding, the lack of crucial foreign input which could work in tandem with the finest tennis brains in the country like the Krishnans is still missing. America and Europe have gone far too ahead in imparting skills to juniors. Sure, the money factor is a major impediment but that8217;s where theInternational Tennis Federation ITF could help in getting the best coaches in the business, and along with Ramesh and company, could work out a system where the chances of success could be far higher.

Considering the disappointing standard of coaching, barring a few, foreign input will be of immense help with the kind of ideas they are capable of generating.

Amidst all the schemes for juniors, the role of a physical trainer is non-existent. In the formative years, a trainer of international standard can do wonders with the players8217; fitness. Only when Indian juniors play in Grand Slams do they realise the difference between a fit player and a talented, but unfit, player.

Here, the concept of fitness is struggling to grow beyond the mundane routine of running around courts for a while. The state-of-the-art fitness regime abroad may look alien to the Indian scheme of things simply because the effort, along with the creditable schemes drawn up, may not be enough.

With the Paes-Bhupathi era enjoying itshigh noon, the uncomfortable thought of getting juniors to deliver on the senior circuit could still be put on hold. But for how long?

If only the right blend of coaching and fitness regime had come together to help those juniors ranging from Rohit Rajpal, Asif Ismail, Rohit Reddy down to Sandeep Kirtane and Vasudeva Reddy, Indian tennis would have had many more success stories to savour.

JUNIOR PROGRAMMES

Ten more under-18 events in the Indian circuit with scholarship money of Rs 75,000 each.

One more ITF tournament likely to be held in Mumbai next year

Efforts on to organise a fifth ITF tournament. ITF regulations do not allow more than four per country

Boys and girls under-18 teams for tournaments abroad, along with a coach. This is apart from the regular junior tournaments abroad.

Under-14 and under-16 teams to be send abroad, along with a coach

Doubles to be introduced in under-14, under-16, under-18 events to cash in on India8217;s success, internationally.

JuniorDevelopment Fund with a fund of Rs 36 lakh; Rs 25 lakh per year for intensive training

Coaching camps conducted by Ramesh Krishnan with a budget of Rs 6 lakh in the current year

Grants of 1500 each from the ITF Grand Slam Development Fund to four promising players 8212; Vijay Kannan, Akshay Vishal Rao, Gautham Sheetal and Sai Jayalakshmy

AITA recommended names of Radhika Tulpule and Kedar Tembe Maharashtra for the Grand Slam Development Fund

AITA recommened names of Radhika Tulpule