New guard means business from the word go

THE WINDS of change have ushered in a new guard at the Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association, which had passed through some turbulent times in the recent past.

Beset by acrimony, mud-slinging, litigation, KSLTA has had a troubled existence in which tennis was nothing but incidental. But for a Davis Cup here and a Challenger there, KSLTA in public esteem had been missing out on sustained tennis activity. Though the powers that be then had put up a stout defence and had managed to keep detractors at bay. As it now transpires not for long.

A new set of office-bearers, headed by the State Chief Minister, Mr. S. M. Krishna, has taken charge of the establishment. The new body, quick to prove that it means business from the word go has unveiled an elaborate programme for Karnataka tennis, where sky seems to be the limit.

To understand what went wrong with the Association, which once had the privilege of hosting Davis Cup ties and several Satellite and Challenger tournaments, one has to go to the past.

From the heady days, when it ran the India v Sweden Davis Cup show in an exemplary manner in 1985, the KSLTA in subsequent years, went through troubled days. The Association found itself on the wrong side of the fence when it sided with Vijay Amritraj - P. L. Reddy combine's Challenger tournaments in Bangalore in the late 1980s. The State Association was then blacklisted by the miffed AITA and KSLTA and State players were cut off from the mainstream for a prolonged period. The KSLTA, however mended fences with AITA and came back into the reckoning. The State Association was once again able to bring in Satellite tournaments and few other national meets, like National hard court championship (1996).

But there was a sense of disenchantment at local level that the KSLTA did not do much for local tennis and the office-bearers were becoming inaccessible and uncaring to the woes of the players and their parents. Another serious charge was that KSLTA refrained from conducting annual general body meeting for seven years.

Few Clubs, spearheaded by Bangalore City Institute, began the movement against the establishment and initiated legal proceedings to force the Association to hold the elections. The State Government then stepped in at that stage and appointed a care taker administrator and inexplicably it soon withdrew that order, again chaos reigned the tennis affairs.

With heavy pressure mounting against it, KSLTA management then went in for the elections, thanks to new political dispensation, persons who had pressed for a change, found a new leader in Chief Minister, Mr. S. M. Krishna, a keen tennis fan, who too wished to put the house in order.

After few compromises, the elections proved unanimous with S. M. Krishna becoming the President while, Mr. C. S. Sunder Raju, a business tycoon, was elected as the Secretary and Mr. P. V. Mahesh, one of the protagonists for change, was named as the treasurer.

The new panel did not waste time and it has set in motion several steps to revamp the Association and provide the much needed fillip to the game in the State. In a visionary statement, Mr. S. M. Krishna called on all those who were committed to the game in the State ``to put their shoulder together, tighten their belts and do everything that is necessary to put the Karnataka tennis and talent pool in the international arena.''

The four-year programme to propel the sport to its highest level was announced and the ambitious scheme includes conducting tournament at all levels, spread the game to districts, create support system with strong technical and management pool.

It also envisages establishment of coaching academy and building a world class tennis infrastructure in Bangalore and create a `Centre of Excellence' and provide for over 400 public courts all over the State. It speaks of bringing major national and international tournaments to the City and have Legends Tour, featuring great players like, Bjorn Borg, Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe.

The task at hand is phenomenal, admits Mr. Sunder Raju. ``But we have the confidence to achieve atleast 50 per cent of the goals,'' he adds. Mr. Sunder Raju is committed to decentralisation of work at KSLTA. ``We are forming several key committees and entrust the work to real experts in those areas.'' The building of 400 courts looks a tall order in a State, where even public playgrounds are rampantly encroached. But Mr. Sunder Raju claims that the courts will be located in schools and colleges. ``The constraints might be there in City, but in district, we do have lot of space, which can be used properly.''

He said the creation of coaches pool is a major aim of the KSLTA and felt that it was needed to build a strong base for the game in the State. The new committee was also keen to have a good calendar with lot of Future and other ATP ranked tournaments which in the long run should help the local players get more exposure and points to climb the ladder of success.

``We wish to put up a good local calendar as well, and the Legends Tour should materialise by December and Mr. C.G.K. Bhupathi (Davis Cupper Mahesh's Bhupathi father) is at it,'' said Mr. Sunder Raju.

On the plans to build an international class stadium, Mr. Sunder Raju was confident that a beginning can be made in that direction. ``The present infrastructure at the KSLTA can be expanded suitably or we can even identify some other good location, not too far from the City.''

The new Secretary offered to be a team man. ``I will go by consensus and team work, when we have such lofty aims, nothing can succeed without team work.''

He was very hopeful of support from everyone. ``Already, we have been receiving enthusiastic support from the players of past and present and parents of several kids offered to chip and make valuable contribution in whatever manner, they can. The corporate houses too have evinced interest and we are determined to tap all resources and help that we can get, and make this a great tennis movement.''

Good rhetoric and high hopes. Time alone will tell how the KSLTA will head now, for a start, it is on course.

KALYAN ASHOK Bangalore

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