Sports

Why did you choose umpiring?

I have been a tennis player and then a tennis coach. Umpiring happened as an accident in early 1990s. It seemed a logical extension of what I was doing at that time - everything associated with the sport. Once I got into it, I started enjoying it and then continued doing so.


Could you tell us a bit about your association with the Champions Tennis League (CTL)?

I have been the Referee and the Officiating Coordinator for the CTL for these past two years. As the league is played in over 6 different cities in India, it needs a lot of coordination for getting the right people to work the event in terms of local coordinators for the cities, line officials, ball kids etc. Plus the chair umpires, which we have put down as a minimum Silver Badge officials to maintain a high standard, owing to the level of top class players involved. Also, to contribute and help in making the format and update/upgrade/adapt when required.


Do you think it is going to help the Indian players?

As a person involved in the sport, I feel that it will help the Indian players as they are associated with these world class players for around 2 weeks. Travelling, staying. talking, absorbing and hitting with them. The Juniors in the teams enjoy and cherish this experience a lot. This year we saw the legends in the teams spending a lot of quality time with these players on and off court. It gives the other Indian players a sense of belonging with the highest level of the game, playing alongside the players who are amongst the top of the sport. Players like Martina Hingis, Flavia Pennetta, Ivo Karlovic, Fernando Verdasco, Marcos Baghdatis are an inspiration for all such young players from India. The Indian youngsters took a little while to break the ice but once that was done there was a lot on offer on the plate for them. It was only up to them how much they take from it..


You have officiated in so many matches. Who according to you was the most difficult to officiate? (Owing to his/her antics/temper on court)

There have been quite a few players who are at times difficult to officiate due to their tempers. Justine Gimelstob, Giorgio Galimberti to name a few. Andre Agassi was a player who expected highest standards on court and one had to be on his toes every second of the match.


India has not been able to produce quality singles players, post the Amritraj’s but have had quality doubles players. How do you justify this failure? Do we lack the right infrastructure or the right attitude?

Tennis is physically a high demanding sport. We have had success in singles. It's not that we haven't had anyone after the Amritraj/Krishnan era. Leander was in top 100. Sania was in top 25. Yuki has broken that barrier recently. I think, genetically we lack the 'muscle' that is needed for the explosive style of singles that is played these days. Doubles is more of a craft and that is where we excel with the talent. However, with the current format of doubles one needs to be on top of one's game every match. There is no breathing space. One day you are a bit below your best and there are a lot of contenders to eat into you. It is not easy what Leander, Mahesh, Rohan and Sania have achieved and continue to do so. To keep on performing for so long!


Do you believe politicians (without the knowledge of a/any particular sport/s) should hold important posts in sporting bodies/organisation for the improvement of sports?

Politicians should compliment and act as catalysts for the sporting administrators who have experience and expertise in their respective fields for the healthy growth of sports. One can not do without the political support, whether it is India or China or any other country. The right mixture and dosage of this indeed is the healthy recipe for any sport.



If there is any suggestion/s from your side for the improvement of sports (not just tennis) in India, what would that be?

I think we lack the High School & University Sporting Culture in our country that is a base of a sporting foundation and has been so successful in other Western Countries. If we learn from the NCAA or such similar examples we can do a lot. The amount of base that these institutions can offer is tremendous and we have to grow that culture. It's not a simple task but the potential it can offer is enormous. The facilities that the High Schools & Universities can have if the funding is given to them and properly utilised, can have an immense potential in nurturing any sport. Corporate support in funding such projects in every corner of the country to keep it running, offering the highest level of training with top coaches, most updated physical trainers which will not be cheap; but we do not want it cheap. Quality is important. The infrastructure created by such a system should take care of the cost. We still hardly have any public places for sport, except for cricket and few other games. Many sports are limited to club memberships. We have to change this culture. In a small country like South Korea, one can see this culture producing top level players. Regional Governments, Universities funding teams & its training by hiring top level coaches & trainers. There is such huge pool of quality players that one wonders if there is 'factory' of making tennis players nearby! It is another thing that these players need to venture out in professional world outside the country to move up in world rankings. They also need to change their cultural mindset to be willing to go out of the country and fulfil their talent & potential. They are quite happy to stay within the boundaries of their country and perform. However, at least they have the system in place. We need to put such a system in place to start with!



Officiating in a match can be difficult as a lot depends on that person. Football, Cricket, Hockey, Basketball- all the major games in the world have given their officials some power, where they can give someone the marching order. Do you think Tennis needs a change in that aspect? We have often seen tennis players argue with an official where the situation has dramatically escalated, resulting in the player using cuss words.  

Tennis has a major Code of Conduct in force and we use it as a tool to control the match, rather than as a weapon. Every sport has different aspects which are unique to that sport and one can not draw parallels. It would be detrimental. A team sport is different than an individual sport. You do see & hear of fines and actions taken against the offending tennis players on various occasions. The controlling bodies are constantly updating and upgrading the code to have the maximum effect.



“Tennis still remains an elite sport”- is it just a myth or there is some substance to it?
 

In India, it still holds some substance. Although, there are more kids taking to the sport at the base level, once you start making inroads into the competitive structure, the expenses go up to the ceiling and not many can afford it. Then you see the drop outs and the best talent may not always get the support that it needs.



India presently has less that 10 quality tennis umpires. You being the Top rated in Asia, how do you plan to inspire more people to take up this job and perform it with the utmost perfection? Also tell us about your plan for Tennis in India.

We don't have merely 10 top umpires. India has the maximum numbers of Bronze Badge - Up Officials in Asia. Once you get a bronze badge after passing the Level-3 ITF Officiating School, the promotions to Silver & Gold are not by taking any further exams. It is based on evaluations and exposure to high level events. It is gradual process. We are taking every step possible to make the white badges into bronzes and bronzes into silvers and further on. Creating opportunities for them to get higher exposure is a complex task.

We also should not forget that the success of these top level officials is drawing a lot of new, young umpires into the field and it is our responsibility to groom them and create the next batch of umpires. We are also trying to expand the base nationally, where these umpires can get more and constant work to keep them in the field professionally. This is very important, otherwise we will lose the numbers. In tandem with the National Federation, we are helping this pyramid to grow and establish. Quality is important but at the same time we have to make sure the quantity keeps on coming, so that the system will filter itself out to throw up better officials. We have to create an educated process to take new people in and not a random one.