The Indian tennis contingent may be proud of their five-medal finish at the Asian Games

India's youth don't want to work hard, feel former stars

The Indian tennis contingent may be proud of their five-medal finish at the Asian Games. However, a closer look reveals that it's the men, who have garnered most of the success. The Indian men's team won bronze in the team event, followed by Sania Mirza's bronze in the women's singles event. Then Sania and Vishnuvardhan won silver in the mixed doubles followed by Sanam Singh and Somdev Devvarman's gold in the men's doubles. Somdev then clinched the men's singles gold.u00a0

So why is it that besides Sania no other female tennis player was able to make an impact at the Asiad?u00a0 MiD DAY discusses the issue with India's former women's national champions, Rushmi Chakravarthi (32 yrs) and Nirupama (Vaidyanathan) Sanjeev (33). Incidentally, Nirupama is the first Indian woman to win a round at a Grand Slam in the 1999 Australian Open. Read on for some startling revelations...

India is yet to see a female tennis player of the caliber of Sania Mirza. Why?
Nirupama Sanjeev: That's true! In fact, only the other day Rushmi and myself were discussing the very same thing. And we have come to the conclusion that our youth are simply not interested in working hard to achieve success in the game.u00a0
Rushmi Chakravarthi: It's funny because looking at Sania and also the advent of the media and with so much of international tennis on TV and in the papers today, one would have thought that there would be a lot of young girls taking to the game. But surprisingly and sadly, it is just the opposite.

Is there a problem in the system?
NS: Definitely not! In fact, today we have much more tournaments than we had at the time I started playing. But today's generation wants instant success. I remember we travelled across the country for our matches in second-class by train, whereas today's kids fly, so they don't face a struggle. Look at Rohan Bopanna. He's been around the domestic tennis scene for so many years and he's got his due in the form of international glory in the doubles only now. Persistence pays and that's why one has to stick with the game.
RS: Unfortunately, our kids today, having been bred on fast food, want fast results. They are willing to put in the effort but across a very short period of time. If they fail at the first instance, they give up.

So are you saying that there are absolutely no talented girls around?
NS: There are a few, but they are not as good. Else, how could someone like me who gave up the game having started a family, make a return eight years later and walk into the team? Youngsters just aren't keen. I have a four-year-old daughter and I'm going to have a chat with her before it's too late.
RS: The bare truth is that it is difficult to pick a team of four good young girls to form a tennis team for an event like the Asian Games.
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As senior players what's your role to better this scenario?
NS: I'm very keen to contribute in whatever little way I can and for that I have even spoken to All India Tennis Association boss Anil Khanna. I've told him that I'm willing to conduct clinics for kids and travel far and wide if necessary to train them.
RS: It's high time we do something else there may come a time when we have no one stepping into our shoes. We have to go out there and scout for talent - catch the kids at a young age and ensure they enjoy the game more than anything else. Success will eventually come only if they keep sweating it out on court over a period of time.