AITA recommends Nagraj’s name for Dronacharya award
According to the letter written to the ministry, AITA said: He (Nagraj) has been instrumental in the excellent performance of Saketh Myneni (Arjuna Awardee) in 2014 Asian Games and Vishnu Vardhan in the 2019 Asian Games. Besides a number of prominent players were given good coaching by him.’’
Hyderabad: It has long been overdue. The All India Tennis Association (AITA) has strongly recommended city coach CV Nagraj’s name to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports for the prestigious Dronacharya Award.
According to the letter written to the ministry, AITA said: He (Nagraj) has been instrumental in the excellent performance of Saketh Myneni (Arjuna Awardee) in 2014 Asian Games and Vishnu Vardhan in the 2019 Asian Games. Besides a number of prominent players were given good coaching by him.’’
It further stated: “All India Tennis Association strongly recommend that CV Nagraj be awarded the prestigious Dronacharya Award 2018 which was long overdue.’’
For Nagraj, it will be an apt reward for his honest and hard work. He has been in the reckoning for the award since four years. The AITA had recommended his name four years ago but he somehow missed the bus. But this year Nagraj is hopeful that his work will be recognized by the sports ministry.
”I’m hopeful that I will get the Dronacharya award this year. I have been in the reckoning for the last four years. AITA and the Telangana State Association have been kind enough to recommend my name,’’ said Nagraj.
Nagraj has been one of the successful coaches from the state. The School of Poer Tennis at RRC grounds in Secunderabad has produced four Davis Cuppers _Susheel Narala (1997), Vishal Punna (2004), Vishnu Vardhan and Saketh Myneni. Apart from these four Davis Cuppers, there are more than dozen players who won the senior and junior national championship.
Asked how is able to produce some many successful players, Nagraj said he always made the training more fun-filled. At the same time he ensures there is purpose and intensity in the training. “I keep on learning new techniques to make the players more aggressive and result-oriented,’’ he said.
Nagraj was instrumental in introducing Vishnu Vardhan to the game of tennis. “He was a very reluctant player initially but he learned the game the hard way. Today I’m happy he qualified and won the first round match at Wimbledon. He is also broke into top 100. It is a big achievement,’’ he said.
In fact, Vishnu Vardhan appreciated the hard work of Nagraj when he qualified for the Wimbledon main draw. “It’s a dream come true to play this event and wouldn’t have possible without the years of work you have put on me. You have inculcated some core values deep in me which is keeping me going. Thanks a lot sir,’’ was the message to Nagraj.
According to Vishnu Vardhan, as a coach Nagraj has a very good temperament. “He would not compromise on any indiscipline. I’m lucky to have someone like him as a coach,’’ he said.
