THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A clay court will be set up at the Ramanathan Krishnan Tennis Academy at Kumarapuram here to enable the adult persons to practise. This was decided at a review meeting held by sports and youth affairs director Sanjayan Kumar and additional director Baiju Krishnan on Friday. Mr Kumar, who conducted an initial inquiry into the mismanagement at the academy, will give a report to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan who holds the additional charge of sports.
Tennis lovers and academy officials had raised allegations and counter-allegations about its functioning. The majority of the complainants who attended the review meeting demanded that the academy should give a slot for adults who wish to play tennis. Deccan Chronicle had reported about the issue on Thursday. Among a number of stadiums constructed during the 35th National Games in 2015, the tennis academy is the only functional stadium which has three courts as well as a central court which can accommodate more than 700 spectators at a time.
“The officials were keen to sort out the issues and sought the opinion of the committee members whether a slot can be provided to the adult players. Since there are over 180 students from various schools utilising the academy there has been clash of timings with the adult players,” said an academy official. Mr M. R. Ramesh, convener and treasurer of the academy, told DC that the two officials had agreed to set up a clay court for the adults to practise.
“In fact, two clay courts can be set up. Currently, we are generating Rs 1.25 lakh every month for the running of the academy through playing and coaching fees. The adult players can utilise the floodlit stadium before 6 a.m. for Rs 800 per hour,” he said. A section of the tennis academy committee members had demanded reduction in the fees by 50 percent, termination of the current group of officials, proper auditing and participation for students of B.Ed college and the Medical College Higher Secondary school.
