MacCurdy starts assesment round at CLTA

Chandigarh, Feb 18 (UNI) Doug MacCurdy, a player development adviser with the International Tennis Federation (ITF), was soon on the courts of the Chandigarh Lawn Tennis Association Sports Complex in Sector 10 after arriving here today. He immediately began his preliminary revaluation round by gathering feedback from the officials, coaches and watching and giving tips to the players on the courts, specially in the age group of 4 to 8.

CLTA secretary M Ramsekhar was seen giving details of the CLTA training and other programme, including the Rural Schme of the association, known as CHART. The CLTA official was keen that Chandigarh tennis players should be among the top ranked players in the world as the association is providing all help to hon their skills and opportunities for competitions at national and international level. Doug MacCurdy also held detailed discusssions with CLTA Director (Coaching) Gary O'Brien and coaches, including Sandeep Singh.

Praising the tennis facilities, Doug MacCurdy said his job will be raise the transit ratio of top tennis players into professionals. "I will evaluate and develop a blueprint for result-oriented player development for the future of Indian tennis. Working for revamping the tennis setup in the country, Doug MacCurdy, a recipient of the International Tennis Hall of Fame Educational Merit Award in 1993 and the ITF Award for Services to the Game in 1998, will submit his evaluation report to the AITA and the decision to implement it will be of the association. He will also be preparing a similar evaluation report for the CLTA players as well as coaches.

His visit to Chandigarh will entirely depend upon his contract period for one or two years with the AITA. Doug, who has worked for two years as a player development adviser with the Chinese Tennis Association under the auspices of the ITF, the International Olympic Committee and the Chinese Olympic Committee in preparation for the 2008 Olympic Games, said women's tennis standard in India is better than men. Sania Mirza's named Doug MacCurdy specially mentioned.

"My efforts will be to improve the transit ratio of the top Indian players into professional players," said Doug MacCurdy.

It may be recalled that CLTA chairman Rajan Kashyap had hoped that the workshop under MacCurdy in Chandigarh will not be one-off thing.

The renowned tennis adviser would be frequently visiting Chandigarh for the CLTA coaches orientation programme. Besides upgrading the coaching programme, MacCurdy would also be laying special emphasis on physical fitness, explaining the modern coaching methods etc Asked how he rates the Indian tennis coaches, MacCurdy said, some of them are good.

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