Good luck for deaf world championship

Prithvi Sekhar stood out with his powerful game as the rest tried to keep pace with him on the fast courts of the Nehru Stadium, as the Indian tennis team prepared in earnest for the Deaf World Championship to be held in Antalya, Turkey, from Septmeber 22 to 29.

The women’s team was particularly weakened as Parul Gupta had pulled out, reportedly owing to a leg injury, leaving the task to run a successful campaign on the strong shoulders of Jafreen Shaik.

The men’s team tried to make it a meaningful exercise for someone like the 25-year-old Prithvi who has been competing in the men’s professional circuit with considerable success, even at the international level.

Coach Chandra Bhushan, quite an experienced hand, having guided Prithvi and Jafreen to the Deaflympics bronze, kept everyone gainfully occupied with drills. He also worked on specific points to sharpen the game of everyone.

‘’These courts are too fast. All courts internationally are slow. The balls are the same as they would use in the World Championship. It is important to play on a slow court, otherwise it may take time to adjust’’, said Prithvi.

He did recall the long camp before the Deaflympics, and said that it made sense for him to be playing tournaments rather than train continuously for about six weeks.

‘’This time I am match sharp’’, said Prithvi, understandably proud about his improving game.

He kept ripping the forehand on Monday, in his unique style, but conceded that the ‘backhand down the line’’ was his favourite shot’’, from childhood, and ‘’the volley’’.

Since it will be a team competition, it will be left to how much support Prithvi gets from his mates to take the team forward in the format which features two singles and a doubles in the team championship, separately for men and women.

There will be individual events as well, but no mixed doubles for the Indian pair to aim a repeat of the Deaflympics or better that medal.

‘’We are getting a woman manager to take care of the team when we travel for the championship’’, said coach Chandra Bhushan, after a rigorous work-out.

‘’We can’t do intense training now. We have to pace them nicely to help the players be at their energetic best through the tournament’’, said the coach.

The team:

Men: Prithvi Sekhar, DH Prasanth, Dhananjay Dubey, Sai Chandan, Joshua Andrew Anburaj.

Women: Jafreen Shaik, Bhavani Kedia, Kirti Lata.

Coach: Chandra Bhushan Prasad.