Indian tennis thrives within the USA because of a sturdy collegiate program. Multiple Grand Slam champion Mahesh Bhupathi who honed his recreation for 2 years there and Somdev Devvarman, who received the NCAA singles title twice earlier than leaping again into the professional circuit with distinction, are the shining examples in latest instances.
However, it’s not that frequent to search out an Indian tennis coach getting into the Hall of Fame within the USA, the way in which the previous nationwide champion Bidyut Goswami did within the Columbia Athletics Hall of Fame not too long ago, after serving the University for 37 years.
“I feel very blessed to have had a career that I always was very passionate about”, stated Bidyut, when contacted by Sportstar.
He gave full credit score to his dad and mom for letting him select a occupation which was “not that prudent” within the Nineteen Seventies.
“My father, a judge in the Supreme Court, gave his blessings by saying, ‘Do the best you can in whatever you want to do’. I was very fortunate to be the Head coach at Columbia University without any previous experience”, recalled Bidyut, who hails from Assam.
“I have to thank the committee and the Athletic Director for having the courage to hire an inexperienced coach. And after 37 years, and with the induction into the Columbia University’s Athletics Hall of Fame, I feel, I justified that decision and their faith”, stated Bidyut, who graduated from the St. Xavier’s College in Kolkata in 1973.
He additionally gave full credit score to the “amazing players” who helped the University win a number of Ivy titles and likewise received him the “National Coach of the year award in all of collegiate tennis in the USA” in his ultimate 12 months in 2019.
“As I said in my speech, I was happy to accept the induction on behalf of all my players starting from 1982. All my players graduated with high honors and have become a very important part of society. This includes a lot of great Indian juniors who played for me”, he stated.
He does maintain observe of Indian tennis and is “always very proud when they do well”. He watches the Indian gamers on the US Open usually and “root them on”.
Bidyut was visiting India usually “till covid happened”.
“All my siblings and relatives are in India. A few of the juniors who I grew up with are very close to where I live. One of them, former national champion Gaurav Misra also worked with me at Columbia, and that was the cherry on the cake. I do keep in touch with a lot of former tennis players living in India and other parts of the world”, he stated.
A participant and coach from a distinct period, who was loyal to Columbia University, Bidyut did repay their religion in a powerful vogue with a sterling profession of tennis growth.
Source: sportstar.thehindu.com