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The Rising Star tennis tournament, which has become a popular event in the city's sporting calendar, will commence on May 8.
The tournament is played twice a year, in the months of December and May, so that more students can participate during their vacations, said a press note.
The main feature of this tournament is that it is a non-ranking one, which means that there are no ranking points involved for participation or victory, it added.
"The non-ranking format gives beginners and upcoming players to show their talent and get exposure to match play, hence the name Rising Star" said N Rajasekaran, who started the event in 2007. " There are also several established ranked players who participate in this event in order to get match practice for the major tournaments," he added.
The city coach further states that he never accepts sponsors for the Rising Star tournaments.
"The tournament is completely conducted on the entrance fees that are paid by the participants," he stated proudly.
Rajasekaran began coaching in Delhi in 1990, and started working with former Davis Cupper Nandal Bal in Pune in 1996. Several eminent players like Tushal Thawani, Sumeet Shinde and Aishwarya Shrivastav, who are now making waves in the junior national circuit, have been coached by him.
"I enjoy the feeling I get when I see one of my students doing well, and moulding beginners into accomplished players is something I love doing," he smiles.
The tournament has risen in popularity since its inception three years ago, and went from having 140 players in the first edition to an incredible 280 participants in the December edition last year. The rising star features a men's singles and doubles event, and matches are held only on the weekends to ensure that people from all age groups as well as working professionals can participate.
Another unique feature of Rising Star, which no other tournament has, is the family doubles event. Family members pair up to make father-son, father-daughter, and mother-son combinations, to name a few, and fight it out for the title.
" Its nice to be able to play alongside your family and just have fun, and is a nice opportunity for bonding between family members," said well-known coach Nandan Bal, who teamed up with his daughter Namita to reach the semifinals of the tournament a couple of years ago.
With its unique format, the Rising Star tournament gives accomplished and amateur players alike the chance to play their best tennis without worrying about any pressure.
The seventh edition will commence from May 8 at the Fergusson College tennis courts, said the note.
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