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Nandan Ball optimistic about State tennis

By Sports reporter

GUWAHATI, July 2 � He had been the national champion and a vital member of Indian Davis Cup team in 80s. The man with a vast experience in the game was also the coach of the Indian Davis Cup team. He is non other than Nandan Bal who is at present in the city with a week-long coaching programme organised by the All Assam Tennis Association (AATA) at their Chachal complex here.

The former Davis Cupper is a familiar man here as he visited the State on several occasion. Sometimes as coach and sometimes as guardian when his daughter participates in national level tournaments here.

This time he saw lots of changes in the State as far the game of tennis is concerned. He is working with 11 boys and five girls in this camp which was started on June 26 and will be concluded tomorrow.

Interacting with this correspondent Nandan said now Assam is rich in tennis infrastructure. The Chachal complex of AATA is of international standard and practising here players can develop their skills to very high level. He said Assam has a tradition of producing good players. Players like Sukanya Choudhury, Ranjit Dutta, Anirban Choudhury were good. Now Parikhit Somani is doing well at the junior level.

Nandan feels, there should be a system through which AATA has to progress as far developing the game is concerned. Apart from giving stress on developing the techniques and tactics of the players through coaching, the organisers have to look after the emotional aspects of the players. The players have to made mentally tough so that they can face any player in different national level tournaments.

Nandan feels, in north-east there are lots of untapped talents and organising maximum number of tournaments the organisers have to spot those players and send them for higher training. He said, to garner experience all the players must take part in maximum number of tournaments through out the country.

On this camp he said, all the players are toiling hard and hoped in the next two tournaments, particularly in the Asian Junior at Jorhat players from this batch will certainly be able to do well. Naming some players like Arkashis M Talukdar, Sahidul Islam, Surenjita Saikia, Anshuman Phukan Nandan said, if the players continue their hard work, within next five years they will be able to draw attention at the national level.

He also thanked the batch of local coaches, led by Pinak Gogoi for their hard work. Nandan said he has given some drills to the players and now it is the responsibility of the local coaches to continue with all these drills.

He also suggested that while playing out side the State in AITA meets junior players should be sent with coaches so that coaches also can get experience from their senior counterparts.

The players in the camp are � (Boys) Ronit Bora, Raunak Bora, Ankit Kashyap, Manash Pratim Kuli, Anshuman Phukan, Arnab Jan Lahkar, Anurag Bora, Aman B Das, Sahidul Islam, Amlanjyoti Baruah, Arkashis M Talukdar. (Girls) Priyana Kalita, Maitry Phukan, Aakansha Das, Protiksha Sharma, Surenjita Saikia.

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