Introducing the wheels of change

Jayant Mistry is on a mission. The 43-year-old Briton wants to give back to the game which has given him so much for the last 24 years. A former wheelchair tennis professional, Jayant was among the best in the world. In 2000, he reached a career high World No.8 in singles and was a longtime World No.2 in doubles.

In a recent move, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) has identified 20 countries as part of its Silver Fund project where it wants to create the infrastructure and promote the sport. Jayant, whose roots are in Gujarat, jumped on the opportunity.

“It is not about competition but the joy of taking part,” the suave Jayant told DNA on Wednesday. “Not many can appear in Grand Slams but it can be liberating to just play — as recreation, rehabilitation or simply to have a good time with your family,” smiled Jayant, who has won the NEC World Wheelchair Tour, the Masters doubles and the 2005 Wimbledon doubles title. He has also taken part in the Paralympic Games and represented Britain 20 times in World Team Cup, the wheelchair version of the Davis Cup.

All the rules and equipment in this form of the game are identical to those used by able-bodied players with the exceptions of specially designed chairs and the rules permitting the ball to bounce twice.

Jayant’s brief is clear — to promote the game and provide the technical know-how of a game that is played by merely 35-40 Indians. The federation won’t provide funds per se but combine with the AITA and the regional tennis centres to set up a permanent and sustainable wheelchair tennis programme.

The coaches need also to be educated. To that end, Delhi, Chennai and Mumbai have been identified as the three primary cities where locals would be encouraged to play at a regional level and then national level. Jayant knows it won’t be easy.

“In India, our problems are more logistical. It is difficult for someone bound in a wheelchair to simply move about, leave alone playing a sport. So the plan is to take the game to centres for handicapped people and introduce it,” said Jayant.

But the cost of pursuing this game is prohibitive. Jayant’s customised wheelchair comes for £3000. This is where the AITA comes in. According to Nar Singh, the Wheelchair Tennis Development officer, AITA is in talks with firms who can deliver similar wheelchairs at a more affordable cost, in the region of Rs 15,000-20,000.

Jayant is scheduled to visit Delhi in 2010 when he will donate 40 chairs through the Prajapati Association. Looking at him at the MSLTA courts is exhilarating. The Jayants don’t  deserve  our sympathy. They command respect.