BHUBANESWAR 08-Feb-2007 87
Two local youngsters have made Orissa proud by their maiden entry into the top-ten list of the National under-12 tennis rankings. According to All India Tennis Association’s latest rankings, Ansu Kumar Bhuyan stands fifth in the boys’ category with 57.75 points, while Seeulee K Upadhyaya occupies the seventh place in the girls’ section with 51 points.
Ansu made a mark in the junior circuit tennis nine months ago by winning his maiden AITA Talent Series title here at Kalinga Stadium. Since then he has added four more singles and equal number of doubles crowns to his kitty.
Seeulee claimed her first AITA junior title in June last year when she became champion in both the under-14 and under-16 doubles events at Patna. Thereafter, she has bagged four under-12 Talent Series singles crowns.
Team-effort, comprising hardwork by the concerned players, parental support and the guidance of their coaches, played the all-important rols in scripting the success story. Ansu has been training under the watchful eyes of young coach Santosh Kumar Mallick for the past three years.
Seeulee, who received coaching from Subhranshu Sarangi for two years, is now being groomed by Ajay Nisank. Both the youngsters not only aim to move up further in the rankings but repeat their success in higher age categories as well.
‘‘Within a year Ansu should become India No 1 in the under-14 group. We are also working sincerely to make him an international eventually,’’ said Mallick. But despite showing promise and achieving noticeable success the two youngsters have not been able to get any sponsorship except accessories worth Rs 25,000 from racket manufacturers Babolat.
‘‘We sell a share every time Ansu goes out to play a National circuit tournament. He plays around 10 tournaments a year. In three years, we have spent around Rs 5 lakh to shape up his career,’’ revealed Anshu’s mother Sujata Parida.
‘‘Ansu and Seeulee have already proved their talent. It’s time they should get sponsorship to achieve higher laurels,’’ opined State No 1 player Dr Satirtha Patnaik.
Top 10 (Under-12):
BOYS: 1. Ronit S Bisht (Del, 309.5 points), 2. Vishal Passi (Mah, 119), 3. Rohan Bhatia (Mah, 105.25), 4. Alla Abhishek (AP, 80.75), 5. Ansu Kumar Bhuyan (Ori, 57.75), 6. SM Abdullah (AP, 53.5), 7. Digvijay Naruka (Chd, 46.75), 8. Ronak Jhawar (AP, 39.25), 9. T Nehal (AP, 37), 10. Anvit Bendre (Guj, 35.75).
GIRLS: 1. Surya Tejaswini (AP, 232.75), 2. Anushka Bhargava (AP, 225), 3. Sansitha Nandkumar (TN, 166.25), 4. Tarranium Handa (Del, 104), 5. Teertha Iska (AP, 100.75), 6. Parminder Kaur (Chd, 53.75), 7. Seeulee K Upadhyaya (Ori, 51), 8. Eetee Mehta (Guj, 45.5), 9. C Sai Samhitha (TN, 39.5), 10. Sai Samitha (TN, 36.5).
