"The key is to get state-of-the-art facilities right here in Goa to ensure the organisation of national and international level tourneys. If this happens, like in Maharashtra, where there are many tourneys, Goan players need not move out of State to places afar like Mumbai, Pune, Delhi and Chennai,"
Nathan Chowgule, GSTA President
Basil Sylvester Pinto
PanajiWith the Goa State Tennis Association (GSTA) introducing a new tournament on its calendar in the New Year, it has certainly given succour to the racquet sport of tennis in the State.
Presently underway at Clube Tennis De Gaspar Dias, Miramar, the tournament is set to guide the sport in the right direction, according to GSTA president, Nathan Chowgule.
Post the inaugural of the tourney at the club on January 25, Chowgule while speaking to The Goan Everyday said: "Today, I would like to see people of all ages challenge themselves (to tennis) physically and mentally, be they 5 years or 95. At the end of the day, I give it all to see that the association grows and then only we can say we have succeeded."
While making no bones of the fact where the GSTA stands at the moment, Chowgule continued: "To be a successful association, there are lot of steps that need to be taken. Starting from having the right facilities at the right location to having the right training. The more you learn something, the more you enjoy. The right instructions have to be given to everybody. And then, of course, giving them the competitive exposure."On the ongoing Tennis Open at Miramar, he says that it excites him. "Not all can be a (Roger) Federer or (Rafael) Nadal, but they can go out and enjoy the game just as Raiturkar, a 70-year-old tennis enthusiast does.There will be men and juniors very serious in tennis. This particular tourney shall see a wide range of players. Sports, so as in tennis, is good for the mind, and one's health in general. We would like to take tennis at the inter-school, inter-collegiate level, " he reveals on his dreams with GSTA.
To reach out to all walks of life and make tennis more accessible, he advocates a need for tennis facilities at a location wherein a child would not be dependent on their parent/s to take him/her to avail of the facility and take the cycle in lieu or even the elderly, who could take a single bus. With the likelihood of the National Games in the State this November, he is very hopeful that better tennis facilities come up where the right kind of training can be given. While conceding that most of the facilities are sitting with private clubs, he hopes that the association gets the necessary infrastructure to provide to tennis enthusiasts who cannot avail of the cost of being a member of such elite clubs. "I would wish to see that when a court is free, say to a tennis player, here take this racquet, go out and play. I would like to see similar hunger found in other games like football satiated in tennis as well," Chowgule affirmed.
"Cidade De Goa, Dona Paula have lent out their court to GSTA wherein we conduct a tennis programme called the Junior Tennis Association which comes under the main body of the State-run Association. We have an outreach with coaches as Valentino D'Silva at Clube Tennis De Gaspar Dias, Miramar, and at the centre at Bastora, in North Goa, while in places like at BPS Sports Club, in Margao (South Goa) we have qualified coaches there as well," he disclosed.
"The key is to get state-of-the-art facilities right here in Goa to ensure the organisation of national and international level tourneys. If this happens, like in Maharashtra, where there are many tourneys, Goan players need not move out of State to places afar like Mumbai, Pune, Delhi and Chennai," the GSTA president opined. But on the flip side, he admits there is a dire need of a number of courts at a good location in the State.
He further divulged the association have been in discussion with the government on acquiring land to serve the purpose at the right location. "We need 6-8 courts with the right facilities at one location with similar surfaces to have a standard national level tourney in place. The minute we get it, tennis will serve wonders to Goa," he envisions.
He makes it clear while stating that some players may progress as professionals, others may just go out there with the sole purpose to have fun on the court. More than anything else, he wants tennis to grow as a sport in the State where individuals irrespective of their age have a good time with a racquet in hand and be in a sport where they meet new people on and off the court.
Talking of the players doing well on the circuit, he singles out the Goa-based Natasha Palha who is ranked No. 3 in the Women's National Circuit while mentioning the name of Tejas Shevde in the Men's Category, as a player to look out for. He also says that there are a few promising U-12 players from the State, but would not pinpoint their names at this juncture as they may feel the pressure otherwise and he would not want any unhealthy competition to creep into their game.
On the immediate goals of the association, he reveals that to start with, they are pushing for allocation of land with the State government to get courts. Apart from which, they have been asking clubs to organize tourneys with a promise of extending full support on their part. He also yearns for a location, where not only members of a club can be offered facilities to tennis but integrating the elite to the common man who enthuse interest in tennis to play the sport on a common platform. He also wants the clubs to introduce tournaments at the inter-club level where they start challenging themselves, have a ranking system put in place and play matches with an opponent based on their level.
