From traveling as a junior to International tournaments to playing pro tennis, I have often been envious. Envious of other smaller countries like Thailand, Indonesia, Japan and many other Asian countries who had a system in place for players like me, who could travel as a team to play tournaments all over the world, whose teams had sponsorship, who had a coach travel with them, who had nothing in the world to worry except to play tennis. I played International tennis from 1992 till 2002. There was no system then. I made a comeback in 2010 when I played in CWG and Asian Games. Still, nothing! From 1992 till date, there is no comprehensive system in place for top juniors and women in the country. Maybe they just don’t know what to do……
Humour me for a moment. If you were appointed as a head of an organization and you had no clue about the field itself, what would you do? I don’t know about you, but I would surround myself with the best in that field. I would learn about it, educate myself and do the right thing, so as to not mess it up!!! Or, I would at least appoint one person who knows his stuff and give him all the support and backing. That’s what someone who genuinely wants to improve the sport will do. But if holding on to that position is more important than improving the sport, then it’s just a sad case of history repeating itself in India.
Last time I was in India for my book launch, one of the people in the audience asked me “ What is the difference between USTA and AITA? It can’t be that different”. I was taken aback because I thought people knew. I thought they knew that USTA has multiple systems in place for their juniors. If you were in the top 5 in USA, you never needed to spend a dime for your coaching or travel. You will have access to the best facilities, be it courts, physical fitness equipment, mental coaching, physios, on court coaching- anything you can think of. There are grass roots programs, state level programs and national level programs. Each step is well laid out. It’s still not perfect and even with all these in place, USA still struggles to produce top players in recent times due to colleges taking their best crop.
The Sports Ministry has asked the President of AITA to step down since he has exceeded his tenure. Even in utmost unlikelihood that this even happens, it’s like choosing the devil and the deep blue sea. It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if Aditya Khanna,(already an office bearer in DLTA) the heir apparent, takes over. I honestly don’t know which is better!
The seat of the All India Tennis Association has obviously become a family tradition- almost reminds me of a dialogue from a bundle of a movie “ Kabhi Kushi Kabhi Gum” Ye tho Parampara hai Beta- Parampara” the dad tells the son! But let me tell you, R. K. KHanna, the patriarch of this dynasty, did do one good thing when he was in position. He encouraged the State Ranking tournaments all over India , because of which many made a living by playing this sport . Those tournaments were a big boost for juniors like me at that time. It made the transition from juniors to women’s tennis smooth. Sadly, those too, were terminated!!
I had a dream…..I actually still do. I suggested these to the AITA four years ago. I dream of a tennis association that has people with a genuine passion for the game, not guys who are hired just because they come as cheap labor. I dream of a tennis association that educates its staff to be the best in the field, be it on the administrative side or coaching side. I dream of our juniors, traveling as a team with a coach. I dream of our pro players giving back to our sport by showing the juniors the ropes. I do realize that this might remain a dream………unless something drastic happens! The Sports Ministry needs to ask for a system overhaul instead!
Friday, October 31, 2014
Saturday, September 20, 2014
The case of the curious blazer
Just saw pictures from the opening ceremony of Asian Games in Incheon,Korea. Our lovely female Indian athletes waving flags and walking in the march past brought me back great memories. But what the heck, what might have been a beautiful saree was completely covered by THE BLAZER !!
Should I keep it for all the memories or should I give it away to someone more needy of a blazer, i thought? You know, the one that every athlete who has played for India owns?
The blazer is always the distinct dark blue in color and a patch on the pocket determines which event that was given to us, like Guangzhou Asian Games 2010 or Olympics 2000 Sydney and so on and so forth.
Let me be a bit blunt and frank, its the most useless piece of clothing I have ever owned. Firstly, its never stitched right, they make you look like Hulk. Secondly, we are supposed to wear them on top of the saree during the Opening or Closing Ceremony. It makes many of even my glamorous friends look atrociously shabby. The beauty of the saree is forever lost with this silly blazer on top. I dont know about the rest of my fellow women, but, I, for one, have never worn even one blazer after an event. I own nearly 10-15 having played for India since I was fourteen.
Yeah, I admit, I kept them for a few years as memories. But then, memories are in the mind and heart. Surely not in the clothes :) But I decided then I would give them to somebody less fortunate, they can at least wear it during colder weather.
I hope the IOA and the Sports Ministry will think of saving all this unwanted effort and money and put that into helping athletes who need some other equipment instead....
Should I keep it for all the memories or should I give it away to someone more needy of a blazer, i thought? You know, the one that every athlete who has played for India owns?
The blazer is always the distinct dark blue in color and a patch on the pocket determines which event that was given to us, like Guangzhou Asian Games 2010 or Olympics 2000 Sydney and so on and so forth.
Let me be a bit blunt and frank, its the most useless piece of clothing I have ever owned. Firstly, its never stitched right, they make you look like Hulk. Secondly, we are supposed to wear them on top of the saree during the Opening or Closing Ceremony. It makes many of even my glamorous friends look atrociously shabby. The beauty of the saree is forever lost with this silly blazer on top. I dont know about the rest of my fellow women, but, I, for one, have never worn even one blazer after an event. I own nearly 10-15 having played for India since I was fourteen.
Yeah, I admit, I kept them for a few years as memories. But then, memories are in the mind and heart. Surely not in the clothes :) But I decided then I would give them to somebody less fortunate, they can at least wear it during colder weather.
I hope the IOA and the Sports Ministry will think of saving all this unwanted effort and money and put that into helping athletes who need some other equipment instead....
Thursday, May 15, 2014
History should not repeat itself
I sat across from her in this quaint little coffee shop in Pune. She had asked me the previous day about meeting up with me- just to talk. She and her friend accompanied me in the short walk from Pune PYC Gymkhana to this coffee shop for breakfast.
We ordered some food and started chitchatting. She was a mixture of personalities. I sensed a bit of shyness, yet some resilience. There seemed to many questions, yet quiet determination.
Her first few questions were about tournament planning and what she can do to get to the next level. The first step towards getting better, in my view, is the shedding of ego- asking other people, seeking help. I was happy to see this in her. When I asked her who she travels with- she said "I travel alone". Those words sent me gasping and I looked at her incredulously. Nearly 15-20 years ago, I did it- I lived alone and traveled alone on the pro tennis tour and it seemed the only way.. But this is so many years later. And things haven't changed one bit for the current India's no.1??? I was utterly saddened as I listened to Ankita Raina, India no.1 female tennis player in that coffee shop. This was like history repeating itself. As shocking as it might be,this girl might have been me,20 years ago. In these things, history should not repeat itself. While she does get help from one sports authority in Gujrat, it isn't enough.
Despite the Sania Mirza phenomenon, the All India Tennis Association still continues to shy away from helping India's no.1 female player. This is the time she needs the financial support. She needs to travel with a coach who will also take care of all her travel requirements, visas, practice and all she needs to do is play tennis.
At a Rotary Club meeting in Pune, someone asked me "What is different between US or any other foreign country and India in terms of support from the tennis federation?" It caught me by surprise. Then it dawned on me that not everyone knows how it is outside of India. I explained to him that in US, if you are a top junior in your state( not even the best in the country), you have the luxury of free training with the USTA's top coaches, free tournament travel and safety. I remember traveling as a junior to International tournaments with my dad and looking at awe and much envy at the US junior team that came with 3 coaches with all their expenses taken care of. All they had to do was play! It truly pains me that in 25 years there is no system in place to even help the top woman player of the country. If the AITA does not have the funds, how difficult can it be for them to at least arrange for a sponsor for the top 3-4 female players through a private sponsor? Do they really care, is the question that comes to my mind....
To get to the next level, Ankita will need to base herself abroad and that will not be easy. She will need to shed all the familiarity of family, friends and go on the tough grind of pro tennis. But this would be a tough ask if she doesnt have the support.I told Ankita Raina " What you have to learn from Sania Mirza- was her belief in herself. She believed she belonged in the top 50 even before she got there". Ankita quiet resolve,belief in her work ethic and hard work will take her places, but she needs help and she needs it now!
We ordered some food and started chitchatting. She was a mixture of personalities. I sensed a bit of shyness, yet some resilience. There seemed to many questions, yet quiet determination.
Her first few questions were about tournament planning and what she can do to get to the next level. The first step towards getting better, in my view, is the shedding of ego- asking other people, seeking help. I was happy to see this in her. When I asked her who she travels with- she said "I travel alone". Those words sent me gasping and I looked at her incredulously. Nearly 15-20 years ago, I did it- I lived alone and traveled alone on the pro tennis tour and it seemed the only way.. But this is so many years later. And things haven't changed one bit for the current India's no.1??? I was utterly saddened as I listened to Ankita Raina, India no.1 female tennis player in that coffee shop. This was like history repeating itself. As shocking as it might be,this girl might have been me,20 years ago. In these things, history should not repeat itself. While she does get help from one sports authority in Gujrat, it isn't enough.
Despite the Sania Mirza phenomenon, the All India Tennis Association still continues to shy away from helping India's no.1 female player. This is the time she needs the financial support. She needs to travel with a coach who will also take care of all her travel requirements, visas, practice and all she needs to do is play tennis.
At a Rotary Club meeting in Pune, someone asked me "What is different between US or any other foreign country and India in terms of support from the tennis federation?" It caught me by surprise. Then it dawned on me that not everyone knows how it is outside of India. I explained to him that in US, if you are a top junior in your state( not even the best in the country), you have the luxury of free training with the USTA's top coaches, free tournament travel and safety. I remember traveling as a junior to International tournaments with my dad and looking at awe and much envy at the US junior team that came with 3 coaches with all their expenses taken care of. All they had to do was play! It truly pains me that in 25 years there is no system in place to even help the top woman player of the country. If the AITA does not have the funds, how difficult can it be for them to at least arrange for a sponsor for the top 3-4 female players through a private sponsor? Do they really care, is the question that comes to my mind....
To get to the next level, Ankita will need to base herself abroad and that will not be easy. She will need to shed all the familiarity of family, friends and go on the tough grind of pro tennis. But this would be a tough ask if she doesnt have the support.I told Ankita Raina " What you have to learn from Sania Mirza- was her belief in herself. She believed she belonged in the top 50 even before she got there". Ankita quiet resolve,belief in her work ethic and hard work will take her places, but she needs help and she needs it now!
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