These days, the bustling and fast-developing Banaswadi area may seem to have everything, but good sports facilities still remain elusive. Only a few grounds dot the region, and are used for general recreation, but one sports training centre has been addressing this void for the last five years: noted trainer Shashikanth Kanbargimath’s KIMS Tennis Academy.
Shashikanth is a veteran coach, with over three decades of service to the game. His most popular centre, the Indian Gymkhana Club in Cox Town, produced several top juniors, but unfortunately when the club decided to expand and add more facilities within its compound, the tennis courts were its major casualty, forcing Sashikanth to look for an alternative. Now, the academy is based in Hennur-Banaswadi Cosmopolitan Club, which has two courts.
“I am grateful to the club, which came forward and allowed me to use their courts for training purposes here. It has been mutually beneficial, as I am able impart quality training to kids in this area and at the same time, carry on with my avocation,” he says. The academy now trains around 60 youngsters. “The trainees come not only from Banaswadi, but also from neighbouring areas like Hennur, Kasturinagar and Lingarajpuram,” says Sashikanth. His schedule is hectic as he conducts three sessions a day.
“We can take in more trainees if we had one or two more courts, but given the circumstances, I would rather limit the intake,” says Sashikanth. Another reason for keeping numbers at a moderate level is to ensure proper attention to the wards.
Promising talent
Some of the young trainees like such as Anirudh,Vishal and Sai Vignesh, have already started making good progress at the State level. At the Banaswadi centre, Sashikanth concentrates on children in the under-10 category.
“It is the this age group which needs sound basic training and I work on their fundamentals and footwork besides giving simple but effective physical drills. One should not load them too much and endurance can be developed when they start growing and mature as young players,” he says.
“There is talent aplenty in the State; what kids need to develop is perseverance, besides the right basic skills…There are no shortcuts to success, only hard work pays off here. I would be happy to see a few of my wards from the Banaswadi centre make it big in the game,” says Shashikanth.
