If you are looking for tennis with a cool touch this summer, then the Tariq Sports Academy (TSA) at Sanjeevaiah Park could well be the right place to head to. Amid soaring temperatures, a draught of cool breeze from the Hussain Sagar should be quite soothing.
In addition to six clay courts, academy officials say a physiotherapist, psychologist, dietician and physical trainers are also available. They will supervise routines for physical fitness, treat or prevent injuries, develop mental toughness besides providing guidance of what, how and when to eat. The morning session for adults between 6 and 8 a.m. costs Rs. 2000 per month and the one-hour evening session for kids, six days a week, costs Rs. 1500 per month.
Since its inception in July 2010, the academy's growth has been rapid, with two centres already operating at the Secunderabad Club and the Hyderabad Public School. While entry to these venues are restricted by club membership or to students of the educational institution, classes at Sanjeevaiah Park scheme are open to the general public. TSA will offer group and private coaching classes (to players who want to improve their game further) and social tournaments for senior members. To promote the sport, it plans to conduct national ranking tournaments at regular intervals to give better exposure to local talent. At the helm is Tariq Ali Khan, an International Tennis Federation (ITF) and Professional Tennis Registry (PTR -USA) certified coach. The 37-year-old, who represented the state for 13 successive years at the national level has also won laurels in the Middle East too.
