In what appears to be an obvious attempt to demoralise a bright tennis player, the Chandigarh Lawn Tennis Association (CLTA) has denied support and wild card in singles to Neeraj Yashpaul, Chandigarh’s No. 1 Men’s Singles Tennis Player. Ajay Yashpaul, a distraught father-coach of Neeraj addressed a press conference to expose CLTA’s ‘conspiracy’ against his son.
Ajay informed the media that on the basis of being Chandigarh’s No. 1 player, Neeraj had applied for a main draw wild card in the ITF men’s tennis tournament being held in Chandigarh from till March 16. He said, “Just like last year, he didn’t get any wild card for the main draw in singles, which is proof of the continuous neglect being faced by him at hands of his parent association CLTA. CLTA is out to crush the career of my son.”
Ajay added that the CLTA’s act has not only scuttled his entry for international tennis tournaments but he has also been deprived of practice facilities at CLTA to get trained with his coaching team. “It is the right of the No. 1 player to train at the parent association’s facility and also to get a wild card entry in ITF Tournaments being held at CLTA,” said Ajay.
Ajay further said that when he had applied to CLTA for allowing Neeraj to train with his coaching team the application was put on the backburner. My attempts to get Neeraj entry via the Sports Department too were scuttled under a well thought out sinister plan, added Ajay.
“I am unable to understand the way CLTA is behaving with Neeraj, apart from being the No. 1 lawn tennis player in Chandigarh he was the only one from Chandigarh in the last 5 years to achieve a ranking of 15 in men’s singles in India. He has multiple achievements such as winning major AITA men’s tournaments to his credit. He was a silver medallist in the first edition of the ‘Khelo India University Games’, two times Gold Medalist in inter-college tennis championships and Gold Medalist in the Inter-University tennis championship,” Ajay said further.
Ajay bemoaned that due to CLTA’s apathy he had to train Neeraj at different facilities which at times were not up-to the mark, and that this forced him to leave Chandigarh with Neeraj. “I shifted to Delhi for better training avenues for my son. Though now we are back, my son is still being denied a wild card by CLTA. What’s more, even today he doesn’t have access to courts at CLTA, which is his right.”
Ajay added that despite his sterling achievements, Neeraj has been left unsupported, with no sponsorship to participate in tournaments, which is a massive setback for his career. Ajay revealed that funds were not an issue at CLTA but the real issue was that these were being spent on wrong players at the cost of deserving ones.
“Tennis is an expensive sport and involves international travels. So far, I have been bearing the cost of Neeraj’s training and travel for national and international tournaments. A middle class family can’t afford such expenses beyond a point,” he added.
Reflecting further, he said that CLTA’s promotion of player development through academies such as the Chandigarh Academy for Rural Tennis (CHART) should be probed as non-deserving players are being promoted.
In reply to a question, Ajay Yashpaul said that the Chandigarh Sports Department, which has leased the CLTA premises, has left players like Neeraj to fend for themselves & shown no interest in addressing the challenges faced by his son and other deserving athletes.
Since the CLTA and the Chandigarh Sports Department are not coming forth with support, Ajay made an earnest appeal to corporate sponsors and sports enthusiasts to step in and support Neeraj, who has proven his worth through hard work, dedication, and consistent results.
“We are not asking for charity, but for genuine recognition of merit. Neeraj needs financial backing to continue his high-level training and compete in international tournaments. The time has come for Neeraj to make difficult decisions about his future in tennis. The level of subjugation of my son is such that any other player would have quit by now, it’s Neeraj’s strong will that is making him continue the fight,” said Yashpaul.
“If this neglect continues, Neeraj may have to reconsider his career trajectory. The support he needs to continue playing at the highest level must come now, or his dreams could be dashed,” added an emotive Yashpaul.
Ajay Yashpaul Makes Two Fervent Appeals to UT Administrator & Punjab Governor:
First Plea: Cancellation of Lease Deed Between CLTA and the Sports Department
Ajay Yashpaul called upon the UT Administrator to immediately cancel the lease deed between CLTA and the Sports Department, citing the lack of active support for players and no interest in spending resources for player development. The plea calls for the sports department Chandigarh to take over the premises on the lines of lake sports complex , to ensure the growth of tennis in Chandigarh.
Second Plea: Sponsorship Funding for Player Development
On behalf of his son, Neeraj, the number 1 tennis player in Chandigarh, Ajay Yashpaul made an appeal to UT Administrator for help in getting financial support to enhance his son’s tennis career. Due to inadequate infrastructure and training facilities in Chandigarh, Neeraj cannot compete internationally without proper funding. The plea seeks a yearly sponsorship of at least ₹50 lakhs to enable Neeraj to train abroad with better facilities and regularly participate in international tournaments. This funding would be crucial not only for Neeraj’s career but also for the development of tennis in the region.
Yashpaul said that he will soon be meeting the UT Administrator & Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria on the mess created by CLTA & UT Sports Department.
