Anant Bakhale
anant@herald-goa.com
Tejas Shevde, a leading
tennis player and the winner of Clube Tennis de Gaspar Dias Open 2016 and 2017
tournament, started playing when he was 8 years old.
Tejas who is an all-rounder
athlete grew up watching a lot of tennis and was introduced to the sport by his
father Subodh Shevde.
“One day I and my brother
were watching tennis on TV and that’s where it all started. We told our father that
we want to play tennis and started practicing at BPS
sports Club”.
Tejas won several tournaments
including JP Morgan chase ace tennis tournament held in the US Open venue in
the International Tournament Under 12 category in 2008. He also won the Germany
A+ level national tournament in the Under 18 category in 2015.
“My most memorable tournament
was the one in USA because it was my first trip abroad and also I had to play
on the US Open courts. That made it more special. And winning the tournament
gave me a free ticket for the US Open where I got to see Federer and all the
greats compete”, he said.
Tejas feels that tennis is a
different ball game which makes him satisfied.
“I used to play many other
sports too like table tennis, cricket, football and have played at a high level
too but tennis is a different ball game. Tennis is something that satisfies me
and it is fun to play and compete in the game. Waking up to tennis is a feeling
only a tennis player will understand. My love for that game is not measurable”
he said.
Aspiring to become a tennis
professional like his role model the legendary Roger Federer, Tejas practices
for a couple of hours daily under the guidance of Nathan Chowgule, president of
the Goa State Tennis Association.
“I started with my dad Subodh
he is my first coach. He taught me how to hold a racket and now I play under
Nathan. He’s my coach who has taught me a lot not only in tennis but also in my
day to day life. It is Nathan and Melanie Chowgule who has bought me to this
level”, he said.
About selection of
tournaments Tejas said he selects the tournaments wisely and makes a schedule
for the same.
“There are numerous tournaments
in a year but me along with my coach select tournaments wisely and also make a
schedule for same. It depends on which tournament will give me maximum ranking
points and at the same time will be cost efficient, he said.
Tejas is studying BCA
(Computer Application) 1st year through home schooling IGNOU. This
helps him train more for tennis (fitness and gym) as there is no need to attend
regular college
He plans to play many
tournaments this year and get a good Indian ranking and an international
ranking.
