18-Dec-2009 252
Scorpion Tennis International (STI), a leading academy of the sport with branches in Australia, Spain, USA and Thailand, launched its India Chapter in Bhubaneswar today. Making international champions from India in general and Orissa in particular would be the main goal of the new nursery, said STI founder and CEO Leslie Harry Haiens at a media conference.
Located behind Highway Honda, along the four-lane Cuttack-Bhubaneswar Highway, the new academy is equipped with modest infrastcture facility, including two floodlit clay courts. Offering most modern system of coaching and training, the academy would be residential one, offering edcutation at SAI International School and exposure to competitive tennis as well.
Initially, the Indian unit would accept 10 boys and girls, who have achieved some standard at the National circuit, disclosed Subhransu Charan Sarangi, the Director of the Indian Chapter.
``In order to get into Scorpion Academy, a player must have good level of fitness, hunger to become World No 1 and money to afford the cost involved,’’ he explained.
According to Haines, the trainees of the Indian academy would get chance to train and play at other four units of STI. Similarly, trainees of the other four units would come to the Indian unit for the same purpose. He made it clear that Spanish training system would be followed uniformly in all the five STI academies.
“Spanish players are now dominating the world tennis. That is because of their rigorous training method on clay courts, which is slow. On clay surface you need to hit 15-20 balls to win a point. American and English players losing their supremacy because they want to hit a winner in three balls,’’ elaborated Heins.
He felt that training on clay courts would make players tougher both physically and psychologically. Speaking on his decision to set up the academy in Bhubaneswar, instead of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata or Chennai, Haines said:
``Bhubaneswar is less polluted city with an international airport. Besides the environment, the youngsters of the state are keen to excel in tennis.’’
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