Mumbai’s 72-year-old coach completes 50 years of mentoring young talent
Tahir Ali a veteran tennis coach recently marked a milestone in his coaching career. The affable coach completed 50 years of imparting tennis lessons and honing the skills of youngsters, which included Bollywood star Aamir Khan who played the sport during his younger days.
Legendary coach Tahir Ali (right) receives a memento from his students Anahat Pandole (centre) and Radha Pandit, a former Junior U-18 National Champion at a felicitation function. Tahir Ali completed 50 glorious years as a tennis coach in the city.
The celebrated actor, who had won the Mumbai Schools’ Sports Association under-14 tennis title, had at a similar function a couple of years ago praised his coach Ali. “I truly enjoyed training under Sir (Tahir Ali), who did a commendable job with his students. He was wonderful as a tennis coach, an excellent teacher and he was also a good human being. The role a teacher plays is the most important and they give so much to society. If the teacher is not good then that could ruin a whole generation,” he had pointed out.
The 72-year-old Mumbai-based Ali, for his love for the sport and his marathon service to tennis players for five decades was befittingly honoured by his students and trainees at a grand felicitation function at the P.J. Hindu Gymkhana on Saturday evening.
The genial Ali mentioned that tennis is his life line and believes that tennis is the reason for his longevity. “I cannot do without tennis. It is just like the air I breathe and it keeps me fit and alive. Without tennis there is no life for me,” he told the illustrious gathering.
Ali also recalled a quote of legendary 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer, “When you do something best in life, you don’t really want to give that up – and for me it’s tennis.”
Coach Ali’s journey started way back in 1974 when he completed his certified coaching course at NIS, Patiala. Thereafter, he joined the MSLTA Scheme at Bandra Gymkhana and subsequently moved to MSLTA Headquarters at Cooperage as the Chief Coach. During his decade heading up ‘advanced coaching’, MSLTA was a virtual factory of national champions including Hari Aiyar, Mark Ferriera, Nasreen Shujatalli and Asif Ismail.
He then took up coaching assignment at the Cricket Club of India in 1988 and served the club for over 25 years. He currently is training youngsters at Willingdon Sports Club and P.J. Hindu Gymkhana. Even today at the mellow age of 73 he enjoys being a mentor and a source of inspiration to many of his young prodigies.
Besides sharing and imparting his experience and vast knowledge with talented youngsters, Ali also competes in masters championships conducted across the country and abroad. Being a true fighter and a fierce competitor, he has the distinction of winning many titles in both singles and doubles.
Addressing the well-wishers after receiving his memento, an emotional Ali said, “I hope you remember me, because a coach never forgets. He never forgets your blistering serve or your wonderful backhand slice or you bunking a tennis session on a weekend. Also often when you became furious with your coach for making you pick balls after a gruelling two-hour workout. Or the love stories that blossomed under my watch. I have a long list of wonderful memories of all of you; tiny things who ran around waiting for their sandwich break, who later graduated into strong muscled players with a competitive hunger. Both boys and girls. That coach is me.”
“Time has literally flown by in my tennis career, which spans five glorious decades and during that period some of the greatest the sport has ever seen; Bjon Borg, John McEnroe, Pete Sampras, Boris Becker, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz have shone on the global stage. I’m still going strong,” Ali further mentioned.