5 months ago
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The Indian men’s National shot squad is ranked an abysmal 142. In tennis, determination is nary Indian successful the singles top-250, men oregon women.
India is airy years distant from qualifying for adjacent an expanded, 48-team FIFA World Cup. Indian singles players person won a expansive full of 2 matches astatine Majors successful the past decade.
Yet, adjacent arsenic 2 truly global sports are bed-ridden successful the country, India is courting planetary stars. Argentine fable Lionel Messi conscionable completed a four-city tour, and from Wednesday, a artillery of renowned tennis players, led by erstwhile World No. 1 and 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev, volition descend successful Bengaluru to play the World Tennis League (WTL) exhibition.
“It’s a waste of clip bringing stars similar Messi for such events,” Pradhyum Reddy, who has donned the roles of a coach, method manager and CEO astatine multiple clubs, told The Hindu. “Bring them for a game, similar the last time Messi was present and Argentina played Venezuela [2011].
“This travel was an implicit waste of money, and if they person that kind of money, it tin beryllium amended spent. That radical are consenting to wage immense sums to get a glimpse [of Messi] from a region is simply a bittersweet authorities of our affairs,” helium added.
Such backstage investment being directed towards prima visits and exhibitions and not player-development initiatives comes astatine a disconcerting time. Top formation football, the Indian Super League (ISL), is successful limbo, and the All India Tennis Association (AITA), precocious past year, closed down the National Tennis Centre successful New Delhi.
“You person sponsors due to the fact that a large sanction similar Mahesh [Bhupathi] is heading it [WTL],” said Zeeshan Ali, erstwhile India Davis Cup coach. “The AITA, for immoderate reason, is not capable to pull sponsors. The onus past falls connected the large names, and there is nary crushed wherefore they cannot get unneurotic and commencement a grassroots-level programme.”
Glitzy, star-driven tournaments similar WTL aren’t caller to India. The International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) — besides founded by Bhupathi — ran from 2014 to 2016. The Vijay Amritraj-led Champions Tennis League was held successful 2014 and 2015. But determination is nary tangible impervious that either helped the sport.
“In cricket, IPL viewers are consistently watching the champion successful the satellite and it does person a knock-on effect, but however overmuch of an interaction tin a one-off tennis lucifer person connected a kid?” wondered Pradhyum. “And seeing Messi conscionable walking astir the stadium tin hardly animate anyone to play.”
Zeeshan believes that stars do have a role but player improvement should march successful step.
“When [Roger] Federer came to India [2014 IPTL], and erstwhile [Rafael] Nadal did for Davis Cup [2016], determination was a queue for tickets. So large players do generate interest.
“But fixed wherever Indian tennis is, wealth can be spent better. Every bully inferior shouldn’t be taking a assistance to a assemblage successful the United States. If determination is a way that parents see within India, the tennis country volition change.”
