It was a sunny day in 1989 when 1972 Olympics Indian hockey crew bronze medallist Dr Vece Paes accompanied his 16-year-old son to Chandigarh the place his son was collaborating within the ITF Juniors Match on the CLTA (Chandigarh Garden Tennis Affiliation) Tennis Stadium in Chandigarh. The prodigal teen known as Leander Paes would win his first ITF title on the grass courts of CLTA and would then win the junior Wimbledon boys title. Months after the feat, the youthful Paes would play within the India-Japan Davis Cup tie on the identical stadium below the captaincy of Naresh Kumar in 1990. Partnering Zeeshan Ali within the doubles match of the tie on March 31, 1990, Paes would win the doubles tie together with Ali in opposition to the Japanese pair of Shuzo Matsuaka and Shigeru Ota handy India a 3-0 lead within the match with India profitable the tie 4-1 finally.
“One of many first issues which I admired in regards to the CLTA Tennis Stadium was the truth that it was purely a devoted tennis enviornment, which was not the case in a number of the tennis centres within the nation at the moment. Chandigarh is a stunning metropolis and the tennis stadium right here offers one a relaxing expertise located amid the gardens. When Leander received his first ITF Juniors title right here, he was very excited like all younger child of his age and it stays his finest recollections of his junior profession,” mentioned Dr Vaes Paes.
Whereas the younger Paes was aged 16 and 9 months on the time of creating his Davis Cup debut for India, the Kolkata participant impressed the then Indian Davis Cup captain Naresh Kumar. With the CLTA stadium holding its first-ever Davis Cup tie, it was a particular second for the town’s elite and tennis aficionados. With India profitable the tie, it meant that Leander began his Davis Cup profession with a win for India. The subsequent 32 years noticed Leander making a document of getting probably the most doubles wins in Davis Cup, a document envied by many. “Previous to the Davis Cup tie in opposition to Japan, I met Indian captain Naresh Kumar at Kolkata Race Course and Kumar was very enthusiastic about Leander. He informed me that he desires Leander within the crew and I informed him that it’s his selection because the captain of the crew. Initially, Leander went to Chandigarh because the hitting accomplice for Rohit Rajpal however on the day of the draw, Kumar determined handy Leander his Davis Cup debut. Leander and Zeeshan Ali received the doubles match and Leander would inform me later that it was nothing wanting a competition in Chandigarh at the moment. Later, Leander and I have been related to CLTA for greater than 14 years conducting teaching clinics and being on the advisory committee,” remembers the elder Paes.
The final 30 years have additionally seen CLTA imparting coaching to rural youngsters below the CHART programme began in 1992. credit score: categorical picture
Whereas the Chandigarh Garden Tennis Affiliation was fashioned on September 17, 1975, it was not till 1987 that the affiliation received its personal stadium. From 1975 until 1987, CLTA held its tournaments at Chandigarh Membership and Panjab College courts, the place exhibition tournaments could be carried out. Whereas gamers like Ramanathan Krishnan, Akhtar Ali, Nandan Bal competed in these tournaments aside from former IPs and Pondicherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi, one such exhibition match noticed the then Indian legend 38-year-old Ramanathan Krishnan compete in opposition to his 14-year-old son Ramesh Krishnan. The teen would beat his father within the match. “I’ve been visiting Chandigarh for the reason that early Seventies. Chandigarh was once our cease after the teaching camp in Patiala. I received my first males’s event right here in 1976 and it was a turning level in my profession. My recollection is the match taking place in entrance of momentary seats (Panjab College). I additionally had the chance to chaperone my daughter who competed within the ITF Junior Match right here. I additionally cherished my conferences with the late Shri Milkha Singh in Chandigarh,” mentioned Ramesh Krishnan, certainly one of India’s most profitable gamers in Davis Cup historical past.
It was within the late Seventies that the Chandigarh Administration made plans about making a tennis stadium within the Metropolis Stunning. With MG Devasahayam, who was the Deputy Commissioner of Chandigarh at the moment being additionally the founding president of CLTA, the UT Administration first earmarked the north western a part of the Rose Backyard because the designated place for the tennis stadium. Whereas Ramanathan Krishnan laid the plaque for the stadium, lack of house meant that the venue for the stadium was shifted to the current place within the Leisure Valley in entrance of DAV Faculty. The stadium was accomplished in 1979. On January 1, 1987, CLTA received the stadium for a 10-year-long lease from the UT Administration. “MG Devasahayam was very enthusiastic about tennis and the UT Administration at the moment got here up with a plan of allocating the price range of two neighborhood centres for the brand new tennis stadium. Chief architect MN Sharma and his crew together with chief engineer Kulbir Singh got here up with the design of the stadium resembling the Rome Colloseum. The stadium was inbuilt such a manner that every spectator can view the match within the stadium with a transparent view of the motion. We additionally planted many timber, together with Jamun and Mulberry timber, within the stadium. In 1989, the then Punjab governor S S Ray and Haryana governor H A Brari competed within the sizzling climate event on the stadium,” remembers Rajan Kashyap, founding member and former president of CLTA.
The prodigal teen known as Leander Paes would win his first ITF title on the grass courts of CLTA and would then win the junior Wimbledon boys title. Months after the feat, the youthful Paes would play within the India-Japan Davis Cup tie on the identical stadium below the captaincy of Naresh Kumar in 1990.
Whereas the stadium hosted its Davis Cup tie in 1990, it received the possibility to host one of many largest Davis Cup tie within the type of India-Australia Davis Cup World Group semi-final performed from September 24 to September 26, 1993. With the Australian crew boasting of Wally Masur, Jason Stoltenburg, Mark Woodforde and Tood Woodbridge and the Indian crew having the likes of Ramesh Krishnan,Leander Paes, Gaurav Natekar and Zeeshan Ali, it was a showcase occasion for Indian tennis and the event noticed the presence of David Ewans, the then Australian Excessive Commissioner to India aside from the then Punjab governor Surendra Nath, Punjab CM Beant Singh and Haryana CM Bhajan Lal. India misplaced the tie 5-0 in opposition to the Aussies. “CLTA received six weeks to organize when AITA determined to host the all necessary Davis Cup World group semi-final tie at Chandigarh.I used to be the CLTA president at the moment and my crew together with CLTA secretary S Marriya would depart no stone unturned for the tie. Initially the Australians had an impression that Chandigarh is a distant place in Chandigarh and so they got here ready with all their meals. However after they reached Chandigarh, they have been shocked to see the amenities right here and the gardens close to the stadium.”
The stadium hosted its third Davis Cup tie within the type of the India-New Zealand tie from September 14 to September 16, 2012. With India profitable the tie 5-0, there was a festive environment on the stadium. Kashyap keenly remembers an incident through the tie. “On one of many days, a new child little one was discovered deserted by a stadium employees close to the Leisure Valley near the CLTA Stadium. The CLTA employees took care of the infant earlier than she was taken to an orphanage within the metropolis. We don’t know the place that little one is now however CLTA doorways are at all times open to the kid,” remembers Kashyap.
Whereas the stadium has not hosted a Davis Cup tie with the final one between India and South Korea in 2016 taking place at Chandigarh Membership, the stadium awaits its subsequent large event. credit score: categorical picture
The Stadium additionally performed host to future US Open champion Emma Raducanu. In 2018, a younger Raducanu had come to compete within the ITF Grade-3 Match at CLTA Stadium and the teen received the title right here. “Emma had come alongside together with her mom Renne to compete right here at CLTA and when she received the title right here, she made positive to thank all of the coaches and supporting employees right here. It stays a particular second for CLTA,” says CLTA chief coach Romen Singh.
The final 30 years have additionally seen CLTA imparting coaching to rural youngsters below the CHART programme began in 1992. Sunil Kumar, from Kapurthala, who went on to turn out to be the Indian champion in 1999, is among the merchandise. “Initially once we recruited for the CHART programme, a boy ran away because of the observe schedule. However then the motive has been to identify expertise from rural areas and impart them free scholarships,” says Kashyap.
Whereas the stadium has not hosted a Davis Cup tie with the final one between India and South Korea in 2016 taking place at Chandigarh Membership, the stadium awaits its subsequent large event.