Team Orisports 04-Mar-2011 171
Silk City Berhampur is known as the home of tennis in Ganjam, the southern district of Orissa. The history of the game in Berhampur is almost 100 years old. The game was introduced in the district through city-based Union Club, which was established in 1901. Though tennis courts appeared and disappeared in other parts of the city, Union Club remained the home of tennis in Berhampur.
Time was when Maharajas and affluent people used to come to the club to play tennis, riding on elephants. Ramanathan Krishnan and Premjit Lal, two of the legends of Indian tennis, also played exhibition matches in the city. Berhampur too produced several national level players including 12-time state champion Navi Ramamurthy.
But despite the rich history, tennis in Berhampur remained confined among veterans till the formation of Ganjam District Tennis Association (GDTA) in 1998. Guided by veteran players J J Rao, Arjun Swain, K Milan Kumar Patro, Jitendra Kumar Choudhury and Uma Shankar Padhi, GDTA took initiative to improve the infrastructure facility and encourage youngsters take to tennis.
One more clay court was added to the existing one in the club premises and both the courts were equipped with floodlights. GDTA hosted one senior state level and one junior all-India level (AITA) tournament almost every year. Though constraint of fund created roadblocks, members contributed liberally to keep the game alive and kicking.
However, GDTA`s earnest desire to groom young talents of the city and district remained unfulfilled because of lack of infrastructure facility of its own. ``Since Union Club is meant for members only, we are unable to provide training and coaching facility to youngsters at the club courts. Our repeated request to the Government to provide us land for setting up of our own courts have proved in vain,`` lamented GDTA secretary Arjun Swain.
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PHOTO: Members of GDTA at the Union Club in Berhampur on March 4, 2011.
