Shevde brothers Tejas and Nishad, have been playing the game together since they were four years old. Their first baby steps were taken at Margao’s BPS Club. Having faced many storms in their sporting careers and having donned many hats besides playing the game, they are super excited along with their other team mates for the National Games tennis action.
Besides playing, they are into coaching not only in South Goa but in North too, and they have their own tennis coaching academy where they train children in the game.
But the biggest and most important event in their sporting journey is coming up on October 30 when they will be representing the state at the National Games.
“We are excited ahead of the championship and are optimistic of doing well at the games,” said Tejas, who will lead the five member men’s squad.
Besides the Shevde brothers, the other members of the squad are Christopher Marquis, Mika Sheth and Saiel Gajinkar.
The women’s team is led by Shreya Pasricha while Prerana Appineni, Simran Bundela, Tithee Bhoomkar and Sayesha Taneja are the other members.
Deepak Nahak and Santosh Gorawar are the two coaches while Jesida Fernandes is the manager. Suresh Kadam is the coordinator of the entire squad.
“From the practices done I feel our players will definitely do well and they have practiced a lot so they can get a better result for them,” said Jesida.
“I would definitely say Goa can have good results in the long run with many young students joining the game and taking it seriously," she added.
Coach Deepak said the National Games hosted in Goa is a wonderful opportunity for all budding sportspersons.
“It's fantastic it's getting intense day by day we started training one month back in this camp and we all gunned up to get some medals for the state and we are proud to be representing Goa at the National games,” said the master tactician , who has been based in Goa for the last six years.
“It's a wonderful opportunity for us and the state of Goa to host an event like the National Games,” he added.
The Goa Lawn Tennis Federation did not go in with the 70-30 quota of importing 30 percent players from other states but decided to stick to the home grown talent.
Explaining the schedule of the championship Deepak said: “There are two types of events that's going to happen, one is individual events ….men singles, women's singles, women's doubles, men's doubles and mixed doubles and we have the team events.”
“We are very proud and we can already see a lot of enthusiasm in young kids and adults and we are getting inquiries day by day inquiring with us how they can be a part of this National Games and how we can start a career for our children.”
The coach suggested that parents keen to enroll their children should do so at an age of five to six years.
“There is a lot of enthusiasm, a lot of action happening and we are really really excited to see the future growing in front of our eyes,” added Deepak, who is based in Salvador do Mundo where he conducts coaching sessions and in surrounding villages and cities of North Goa.
