Wadhera wants to target grass-root

Indian tennis coach urges PTF to have age-based camps.

KARACHI:

Indian coach Birbal Wadhera has urged the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) to hold separate camps for players belonging to different age-groups in order to make it easy for coaches to spot and groom talent.

Wadhera started a 35-day camp in Lahore on May 8, for players from all age-groups. He was hired by the PTF to train the country’s top five women and under-18 players. However, he ended up coaching seniors that included Davis Cup players.

Following the completion of the first phase of the camp yesterday, he felt that lack of tennis at the grass-root level was the biggest problem.

“It’s very important to have specified camps where small groups are trained,” Wadhera told The Express Tribune. “The biggest issue is lack of tennis at grass-root levels. A coach can only spot talented players in a small group.

“If the PTF wants players who can compete on the international level, they need to concentrate on players aged 12 and above who can be sent abroad and can pursue a career in tennis.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 25^th, 2011.