"There is something about children who opt for the open school system and are into home schooling. Otherwise interested in sports, they are academically brilliant and usually outshine regular school goers"
- For example, most of the kids who train at the High Performance Tennis Centre housed in the KSLTA premises are into home schooling. These kids seem to be in their element when exam time draws nigh, scoring in the 80 percent and above bracket.
- Sunil Yajaman, HPTC director, says, "Tennis kids are smart. Their grasping power is very strong. They undergo a lot of pressure during matches and are no strangers to challenges. For them, exams are a replication of the challenges they face on the court. These kids don't need to go to school daily and can easily make up for lost time."
- Asked to outline the academy schedule for the wards, Yajaman said, "The schedule is drawn depending on the individual's height, weight, attitude and mental toughness."
- He said, "We begin at 8.45 - 9 in the morning and the kids generally go through an hour of fitness based on agility and speed. This is followed by two hours of technical and tactical hitting of tennis balls after which they take a two hour break for lunch and rest. Post rest, they are back on court for a two-hour match play where they compete with each other and practise what they learnt during the morning session.
- This is followed by a fitness hour again. Twice a week, they undergo endurance training and at the end of the day, they shower,have a snack and are ready to leave for home or the hostel."
