Nirupama Vaidyanathan: Media interaction on launch of her Memoir “The Moonballer”

2082013

Nirupama, Vaidyanathan, was the numbe .1 female tennis player from India in 1991 to 2001.She made a comeback and played at the CWG 2010 and Asian games 2010 alongside Sania Mirza,Mahesh and Peas.To a question about the available space of more matched in India she added that players need more matches and need to play abroad to gain strength and experience in variety of courts and environments.

She was  the first Indian woman to win a round at a Grand Slam at Australian Open  in 1998. Addressing the media she  said various federations across the board needed to take advice from senior sportsperson to improve the state of affairs. She had offered to coach youngsters and upcoming talent but the All India Tennis Association (AITA) turned her down said on the sidelines of the launch of her book ‘The Moonballer’.

“When I offered my expertise to AITA they didn’t care. I hope they change. They can do a lot better as  there is so much potential here. The  sports person may or may not run a federation, but a lot of changes can be brought in even in an advisory role,” said Nirupama. 

“Even when I was playing, AITA could have done a lot more. They could have tried to get me sponsors but, as I have said before, they didn’t bother me in anyway so it is fine,” she added. 

 Nirupama runs  in Santa Clara,California, the tennis academy Neru’s Tennis Academy said that if she was to join the AITA in the future it would have to be on her “terms and conditions” and made clear that she would not want “any outside interference”.

“My aim is to help juniors as much as possible. But if I am to join the AITA it has to be on my terms and conditions. There can be no bias towards players and no interference from outside.” 

On question of improving the tennis standard in India, Nirupama pointed out that India needed to hold more professional tournaments to set high standards for the young players.

“Once you cross the grassroot level, you only play local talent in domestic tournaments. There need to be more professional tournaments. Players  need to go abroad to play  the only way to improve” .

On another question  to  opening an academy in India, Nirupama said: “I’m thinking about it but one needs to give hundred percent and at the moment not possible but in the within couple of years find things can mend to such cause.