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Current system won't produce good players: Vaidyanathan

Questioning The Functioning Of The All India Tennis Association, Former National Champion Nirupama Vaidyanathan On Friday Said The Current System Was Not Helpful In Producing Good Players.

PTI | Updated on: 02 Aug 2013, 06:37:07 PM

New Delhi:

Questioning the functioning of the All India Tennis Association, former national champion Nirupama Vaidyanathan on Friday said the current system was not helpful in producing good players.

The 36-year Vaidyanathan, who was first Indian woman to win a Grand Slam round in 1998, said if at all the new crop of players will develop, it will be by their own efforts.

"I am pretty sure that there will be new talents coming out of their own efforts. I am not sure on current scheme of things, I am not too hopeful that it could be done in a large scale like China," Vaidyanathan said at the launch of her autobiography `Moonballer`.

Vaidyanathan, who is now coaching in the US, added that, "It can be done with proper organisation skill."

The winner of 1998 Asian Games bronze medal with Mahesh Bhupathi, said the budding players can look up to Sania Mirza for inspiration.

"I did not have anybody to look upto. But now that Sania is in top bracket, budding players can look upto her for motivation. But we need three or four people to do that," she said.

Vaidyanathan rued that the All India Tennis Association (AITA), did not help her enough when she was making her way into the tennis world.

"AITA could have done more. They were not determined to get to the top or help me either. They were there just as an existing body," she said.

Vaidyanathan said that she also had coaching aspiration but it could not be possible because of her indifference with the AITA.

"I wanted to work with the Federation. I do not have any personal vendetta. AITA did not accept my offer for coaching. I am hoping that in future, we would get along," she said.

Talking about the new IPL style tennis league, she was hopeful that it would do only good to the game in the country.

"It is a great thing. May be there would be some inspiration through participation of the world class players. Also it would enhance the popularity of the game," she said.

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First Published : 02 Aug 2013, 06:36:00 PM

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