ITF brings international talents & competition for budding players

ITF brings international talents & competition for budding players

MUNISH DHIMAN  12th Jan 2013

Arushi Kakkar playing at the ITF Junior Grade 3 tournament. PHOTO: T. S . Bedi n a cricket crazy country like ours, venturing into any other sport is a real challenge that needs dogged determination and passion. With various sports gradually picking pace among players, exposure to international platforms have definitely raised the interest. ITF Junior Grade 3 tournament is one such premier-level competition which is organized by the International Tennis Federation, and was recently held at the Chandigarh Lawn Tennis Association (CLTA) Complex. The tournament offered an ideal platform for budding tennis players from across the country who competed to make it to the next level. Though some of them had no exposure to such tournaments, there was no lack of talent on court. CLTA director Gajendra Singh says, "I believe these tournaments are the real acid tests for players, and participating in such international-level competitions, they come to realize whether or not they will be able to take on their competent foreign rivals. It›s always a wee bit tough to face players in the ITF tournaments with an edge over their less-trained competitors." More than 50 players from across the country participated in the tournament. Singh further adds, "Playing for a grade 3 tournament, they indeed hold greater potential as they are capable of matching strokes with their toughest rivals, but when it comes to run and hit, they lack stamina, which acts as a determinant factor in winning the competition. May be they are competent to make it to the AITA level tournament, but to compete at this level, especially with their tough foreign opponents, stamina and subtle nuances of the game are the essential mantras." Ranjeet Singh, a school student and tennis player said, "These tournaments definitely hold great significance for us, as with the meagre funds that are available, we are not able to travel abroad and gain adequate exposure on international courts and scale greater heights in our careers. Such a platform enables us to interact with players drawn from other countries and discuss the niceties of the game and improve upon. We closely observe their technique, abilities and skills that helps us in improving our performance." Vikas Berwal, another player echoes his sentiments, "We are not capable of giving a tough competition to foreign players, who are way ahead of us in terms of their amazing performance in various international competitions. With adequate funds and sponsors at their disposal, they are used to certain state-of-the art technologies while practicing on the court under the expert guidance of trained coaches." Snehadevi Reddy, yet another participant, who travelled all the way from Mumbai, maintains, "I hold that Indian players lack the spirit and attitude, though key players put up a tough competition and come out victorious. ITF is essential to step up your stamina." http://www.sunday-guardian.com/young-restless/itf-brings-international-talents-a-competition-for-budding-players