He said Indians are a gentle race culturally and do not like contact sports. Leander was pulled out of school for his tennis commitment. That was one of the reasons why Mahesh and my son failed to sort out their problems. They learnt it the bitter way. Talking about coaching in India, he said to form an academy and coach is not enough.
Players here retire and automatically take up coaching.
Nick Boliterri, the most successful American coach who has produced Aggasi and Courier is a retired American Navy Seal. Sampras s coach has been his paediatric guide. He said that Leander and Mahesh would sustain for another couple of years, but after that there was hardly anyone left to take up the mantle as the likes of Zeeshan Ali, Sayeed Fazaluddin and Prahlad Srinath had burnt themselves out. So he hoped that his efforts would be successful in grooming newer talents for the sports in future. Briefing reporters after the AGM, AAFI secretary Lalit K Bhanot said the code made it mandatory for all stakeholders in the development of athletics to follow certain guidelines and rules, failing which they would be liable for punishment, disaffiliation and disqualification.