Since the age of eight, Namita Bal has spent most of her time on the tennis courts of the Deccan Gymkhana in Pune — practising and interacting with some of the top tennis players of the country.
But unlike others— who can switch off once the practice is over — the game remains an integral part of Namita’s life even when she is back home.
Namita is the daughter as well as a trainee of the Davis Cup coach , Nandan Bal. Her mother, a former general manager in one of the leading gyms of Pune, also plays a dual role.
Along with the duties of a mother, she supervises the dietary pattern for her tennis-playing daughter, that includes three different coloured fruits everyday.
Being the daughter of a former Davis Cupper has many implications. Not only does she have sound tennis advice available round-the-clock, but it also means that she receives more than her share of attention at tournaments such as the Fenesta Open National Championship last week.
“There is a someone I can go to, if I need something,” she explains.
The advantages go beyond the courtesies. Wild cards are easier to come by, and officials are accommodating to her cause, believes the Pune girl.
But behind the obvious advantages are pressures that other players are unaware of. Because of her father’s pedigree, she is expected not to make the unforced errors others commit, consistently play well without having the inevitable bad days and reach the top of the junior rankings as a matter of right. “When I play on the court I don’t think of all this, but when I come out the realisation crashes on me,” says Namita.
On a personal front, the dual roles of her father also has an effect on the family equation. “I am not allowed to be a daughter on court, but he is allowed to be both. He may tell others to improve, but he will be more critical of me sometimes,” she quips. Namita believes that the father-daughter duo have found the right balance after initial adjustments.
“I did go through this time when I had to believe I was right, but eventually I understood. Now we share a healthy equation,” she adds.
Nandan Bal explains, “She is very focused on what she wants. I only ask her to do the best she can.” Namita, however, has higher ambitions.
She wants her father to be known by her name, instead of herself being known as Nandan’s daughter. Her maiden girls nationals U-18 double title on Friday, may well be the first step in that direction.