‘No need for foreign coaches’
Mahesh Bhupathi is a busy customer, who flits from hard to clay to grass courts across the globe and is certainly not the kind of personality you will get to meet on a routine day out.
Yet, he was candid and all smiles like a friendly neighbour chit-chatting with curious parents and wannabe tennis champs of the Mahesh Bhupathi Tennis Academy at the Regional Sports Centre in Kochi on Wednesday.
The soft-spoken multiple Grand Slam winner was visibly thrilled to see a handsome turnout for coaching at MBTA and said tennis is ‘catching up’ with cricket and other sports.
“The results we have achieved over the years speak a lot, but for a faster growth you need to have personalities to follow,” said Mahesh.
The ace doubles player however rubbished the trend of getting foreign coaches to give a boost to tennis in India.
“It is a myth we have been made to believe in that the colour of the skin makes a difference. I was taught by my father, also was Sania and other players by Indian coaches,” he said.
Tennis is regarded as a costly sport but Mahesh has a different view.
“We (MBTA) do not discriminate, be it in Dharavi or the Ambani house, our job is to find talent. We have been giving scholarships and finding private sponsors so that those with flair are not left out.”
A probing parent wanted to know what they should do to make their kids play tennis.
“It is simple, don’t force them. At a young age, they should be learning to love the game.”
He also announced that MBTA has decided to renew their contract with RSC for another three years. “Kochi has been a special place and there is more number of players than any other centres. In July, we will send a few of them to the tennis village in Bangalore and possibly a few of them abroad,” he said.
Before signing off, the 38-year-old said once the trainees have learnt the art well, they will be given better playing conditions. “As and when they are ready, we will provide them more.”
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