India have good prospects in CWG

Tennis ace Mahesh Bhupathi says India have bright prospects in the forthcoming Commonwealth Games and players have begun preparing for the upcoming sporting extravaganza to be held in New Delhi.

"It's really exciting that India is hosting the Commonwealth Games. We will try to get as many medals as possible. There are still a few days left for this, preparation for the big event is going on in full swing," Bhupathi said in Kolkata during the inauguration of his roof-top tennis academy, made at a height of 117 feet atop a shopping mall.

Bhupathi further said India have bright future in Somdev Devvarman and Yuki Bhambri.

"We have two good singles players in Somdev Dev Burman and Yuki Bhambri. Somdev is ranked 109 and very close to enter into the first 100. Yuki is a kid, really. But he has already improved remarkably. And in doubles, we have almost an unbeaten partnership! So, that augurs well for our chances in Davis Cup."

Bhupathi's tennis academy - the highest in India - is the first of its kind in not only Kolkata but also in India.

"We have an academy at the 1st floor of a building in Bangalore. But to have it on the 6th floor is something I could not resist", said Bhupathi.

Developed in association with Bengal Peerless, the tennis academy is spread across 28,000 square feet area on the roof top of the Axis Building in Rajarhat, Newtown. Both Mahesh and the sponsors confirmed that the academy will boast of international standards.

Kolkata has always been a city, close to his heart because he had made his Davis Cup debut here, said Mahesh.

"So, I was always keen to do something for the city. And I am happy that we could do so. The academy will start in a couple of months and I sincerely hope kids from here will at least be national champions in the next 5-6 years", he said.

The academy is designed as a recreational health facility, too. It will also have a state-of-art gymnasium and Yoga Centre.

What will be the criteria to join the academy? Mahesh said, "Kids with rackets in their hand! It's basically done to grow their interest levels and those who will prove to be special, will be taken to my high-performance academy in Bangalore where they will be focusing only on tennis and nothing else."

Before the French Open, Mahesh will be going to Madrid to play a preparatory tournament.

For Mahesh, the news that Sania Mirza had begun practicing tennis after her marriage is really a good news. "I've heard that she is on court again. So, that's good for Indian tennis followers."

And the tennis-ace, who is addicted to Twitter, was really happy to welcome the maestro of Indian cricket, Sachin Tendulkar, too. "He has joined a day before and already had more than 75,000 followers. I think in a few days he will have a million, surely. That's what Sachin Tendulkar is", Mahesh signed off.