New Delhi, July 12 (IANS) Eminent tennis coach Nick Bollettieri, who is here for the two-day clinic to select junior players for the IMG Reliance Scholarships programme, feels Indian youngsters need to develop their ‘physical make-up.’
Bollettieri, along with Indian coaches Nandan Bal, Akhtar Ali and Aditya Sachdeva, besides leading tennis coach from IMG academies Miguel Rosa took the trials of 50 talented boys and girls, identified by All India Tennis Association (AITA) at the R.K. Khanna Tennis Stadium here Monday.
‘It was my dream to come to India and do my bit for tennis here and I told this to Mr. Anil Khanna (AITA secretary general) at Wimbledon three years ago. I am glad that through IMG Reliance I got this chance,’ Bollettieri said.
‘We saw the juniors not once but several times and we have the idea of the strokes he or she has and his movement. There is no substitute to movement on court. Attitude is also very important which means how a student reacts when he misses a ball or when they are not instructed what to do on a court.
‘Also, we felt that most kids lacked in their physical make-up and have smaller gait which makes it all the more important for them to work harder, most importantly on their fitness. You have big boys and girls on the circuit today and you have to put as much work on the gym as you put on the court.
‘Tennis is a power game and it is not a team game, it’s one individual against the other. So, physical fitness is a must,’ he said.
The 78-year-old American of Italian origin also stressed on the need to educate the tennis coaches.
‘India is a large country and it is important for the success of any programme that you have well qualified coaches.’
The coach and parents play a key role in developing a player, he said.
Upto 15 youngsters between 11-15 years will qualify for the second phase of the trial, which will be organised at the IMG Academies in Brandenton, Florida in August.
At the end of phase two of the selection process, four to five players will become full time scholars every year. These youngsters will be able to continue with their studies as well as receive sports coaching at the IMG academies beginning from September.
Their performance will be analyzed every year and accordingly the scholarship will continue.
