KTA secretary John Nechupadom. Photograph:
| Photograph Credit score: Stan Rayan
Simply 11 and really promising, Aishwarya Sajeev Nair has gained many age-group tournaments however on Sunday she stood out as tennis historical past was being made in Kerala on the Regional Sports activities Centre right here.
The KTA all-Kerala under-12 match, which concluded on Sunday, was the Kerala Tennis Affiliation’s (KTA) first-ever open State-ranking match and Aishwarya, who took the women title, was its first singles champion.
“The KTA by no means had a rating system, that is the primary of our State-ranking tournaments. Provided that we now have a rating system, kids might be extra concerned,” John Nechupadom, the KTA secretary, instructed The Hindu.
“Tennis is without doubt one of the most tough racket sports activities to select up. In the event you don’t have devoted observe of 18 to 24 months, you won’t be able to play properly. The training curve is tough.
“Most youngsters, if they don’t seem to be centered, will surrender the game. That’s the reason we’re introducing these age-group rating tournaments, to make them keep within the sport.”
Just one age-group, under-12, was performed within the Kochi match and there’s a cause for that.
“Not all districts have 4 courts, some have simply two. If we now have occasions with all age classes, we will have tournaments in solely three districts… Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur and Ernakulam. Smaller districts don’t have the power,” mentioned John.
“So, we now have instructed them to conduct just one age class. That might be straightforward for organisers, reasonably priced too. And gamers want to remain only for two days (as an alternative of 5 or 6 earlier with all age teams), and through the weekend, so that you’re not skipping college too.”
The KTA will quickly be having rating tournaments in under-14, 16 and under-18 age teams.
“We hope to have some three or 4 rating tournaments in every age group in a yr. That is solely to advertise the sport on the sub-junior and junior classes.”
John hopes the brand new sequence of rating tournaments will make gamers extra assured as they progress to the larger stage.
“If these children go for AITA tournaments, they can’t even get by way of qualifying. Provided that we work extra on the grassroots-level, can our gamers stand by way of these nationwide tournaments,” he mentioned.
Revealed – March 30, 2025 06:53 pm IST
