Tag Archives: Akhtar Ali

Tahir Ali: The Man Who Coached Aamir Khan Completes 50 Years In The Profession

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Mumbai, MAHARASHTRA :

The 73-year-old Ali has coached some prominent Indian Davis Cuppers like Gaurav Natekar, Asif Ismail and Mark Ferreira

It is no mean feat to complete 50 years as a coach in any sport and the veteran tennis coach Tahir Ali has accomplished exactly that.

The 73-year-old coach from Mumbai who has been at the forefront of tennis coaching in the city at some of the most prestigious clubs including Bandra Gymkhana, MSLTA, CCI and PJ Hindu Gymkhana, where he is currently a mentor and coach, feels a sense of nostalgia reminiscing about the bygone years.

“I feel great at having completed 50 years. It’s an amazing feeling to be doing what I love for so long and it’s probably the first time such a thing is happening,” Ali said.

Ali started his career at the Bandra Gymkhana where he started coaching in 1974 soon after his stint with a one-year diploma course from the National Insititute of Sport (NIS), Patiala.

The coach, who is the cousin brother of former Davis Cupper Akhtar Ali and uncle of Zeeshan Ali, produced several State-level and National-level players.

Among the most prominent ones who were his wards are Davis Cuppers Gaurav Natekar, Asif Ismail and Mark Ferreira, who represented India in the late 80s and the 90s.

Ali also counts Bollywood’s Mr Perfect Aamir Khan as one of his students during his coaching stint at Bandra Gymkhana and has fond memories of a young Aamir.

“He was very talented and was just 14 when he was under me at Bandra Gymkhana. I used to take him to various tournaments including Pune Open. When I completed 25 years of coaching at CCI he came as the chief guest. He is a great human being,” the 73-year-old coach revealed.

Asked to mention the finest moments of his career and Ali counts two occasions as the best of all.

“When I was bestowed the All India Tennis Association (AITA) Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013 and when I received the Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association (MSLTA) Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000, these were my best moments I feel,” he added.

The coach who has changed the lives of innumerable young tennis players says he had only one inspiration: the legendary Ramanathan Krishnan.

Krishnan had reached a career high ranking of World No 2 in men’s singles and had famously reached the Wimbledon men’s singles semifinals in 1960 and 1961.

“He was someone I grew up watching from close and that inspired me immensely,” he added.

Looking at the progress Indian tennis has made over the years with the rise of the likes of Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi, Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna, Ali feels Indian tennis is moving in the right direction.

source: http://www.freepressjournal.cin / The Free Press Journal / Home> Top News / by Haridev Pushparaj / February 21st, 2024

Tennis legend Akhtar Ali passes away

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Kolkata, WEST BENGAL :

Ali’s coaching influenced well-known players like Vijay Amritraj, Anand Amritraj, Ramesh Krishnan, Leander Paes and Somdev Devvarman.

Tennis legend Akhtar Ali, a father figure in Indian tennis, passed away here in the early hours of February 7, said a Bengal Tennis Association source.

He was 81 and is survived by his son, well known tennis player Zeeshan Ali, and two daughters.

Ali had been suffering from various ailments for the last few months. He was hospitalised for a few days before being brought back home recently. He passed away at 2:30 a.m. on February 7.

His cremation is expected to take place around 4 p.m.

Born on July 5, 1939, Ali played in eight Davis Cup ties against Pakistan, Malaysia, Iran, Mexico, Japan and Monaco between 1958 and 1964. He also captained and coached the Indian side. He has also played in the Wimbledon and French Open grand slam events.

His last ATP tour outing was against Vijay Amritraj in a clay court match in Bombay on November 11, 1974.

A fine and soft-spoken person, Ali is well known as a coach, whose coaching influenced well-known players like Vijay Amritraj, Anand Amritraj, Ramesh Krishnan, Leander Paes and Somdev Devvarman.

He was passionately involved in coaching and organising events for grassroots players throughout his life.

Ali was conferred the Arjuna Award in 2000 for lifetime contribution to tennis.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Sport> Tennis / by Y.B. Sarangi / Kolkata – February 07th, 2021

I have no regrets: Indian tennis great Akhtar Ali

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Kolkata, WEST BENGAL :

A member of India’s Davis Cup teams from the late 1950s to the mid 1960s, Ali holds an enviable 9-2 win-loss record in the tourney – rated as the World Cup of the sport.

Akhtar Ali (R) at a club event in Kolkata. (Photo | Twitter)
Akhtar Ali (R) at a club event in Kolkata. (Photo | Twitter)

Kolkata :

Notwithstanding his failing health and advanced age, India’s celebrated tennis player and legendary coach Akhtar Ali still keeps a keen eye on the courts of the eastern metropolis to spot and guide budding talent. Now a 80-plus veteran, Ali leads a simple life, spending time with his grandchildren and has little hesitation in saying: “I have no regrets”.

A member of India’s Davis Cup teams from the late 1950s to the mid 1960s, Ali holds an enviable 9-2 win-loss record in the tourney – rated as the World Cup of the sport. Proficient in both singles and doubles, he has played alongside the country’s legends like Ramanathan Krishnan, Naresh Kumar, Premjit Lall and Jaidip Mukerjea.

Later, as a coach, he guided the creme de la creme of Indian tennis — Ramesh Krishnan, Vijay Amritraj, Anand Amritraj and Leander Paes. Even Sania Mirza once publicly expressed her indebtedness to Ali for having set her on the right track during her formative years.

As a player, Ali grabbed the limelight in 1955, when he first claimed the Junior national title, and continued his wonderful show to reach the semi-finals of the Junior Wimbledon.

The Davis Cup stints till bring tears to his eyes as Ali turns emotional and nostalgic.

“In 1964, I went to Lahore to play the Davis Cup. Myself, S.P. Misra and Gaurav Misra. Four matches we won, one match could not be completed due to bad weather,” he recalled during an interview with IANS.

But it is India’s 3-2 victory over Brazil in 1966 on his South Club home ground that Ali cherishes the most, though he did not get to play any of the matches.

“The Davis Cup was a big thing in those days. I was a member of the Davis Cup squad. When India beat Brazil, that was a big moment and that is the lasting memory I have. That was the first big tie we won and we reached the final,” he said.

The Brazil victory and his son Zeeshan Ali’s success as both a tennis player and coach keeps coming back as one converses with him.

“I have no regrets. I am very attached with the 1966 Brazil win. My son is also a national champion and Davis Cup coach. There is no other family in the world which has a father-son duo to have played and also coached Davis Cup teams”.

In fact, the International Tennis Federation confirmed this in 2013.

Talking about his success as a coach, Ali said: “I enjoy coaching and I work hard. I have produced the maximum national champions and Davis Cup players. I also coached Belgium and Malaysia. I went to the best coaches to learn,” said Ali, who got the coveted Arjuna Award in 2000.

He leads a disciplined and routine life in a nicely done-up South Kolkata flat.

“After I wake up, I do my namaaz. Then I go to the club (South Club). I go to the Saturday Club also. Then I come home, have my lunch and if there is bank work, I do that.

“I lead a simple life. I go to South Club again and help the players. I am not coaching anybody at the moment because I am not well. But I help BTA (Bengal Tennis Association) in finding promising players. That keeps me busy. I love coaching. I enjoy it.

“I go to bed early. Sometimes my grandchildren come over and I spend time with them. It’s good fun,” he recalled, satisfaction ringing in his voice.

However, notwithstanding his high spirits, Ali has recently had his bouts of illness.

“I had lost eight kilos. My hand was shaking and it was tough for me. I took a lot of medicine. I saw the doctor. Doctor told me this was due to old age.

“I am much better now. I am pulling on. I am fit. I train light and can run a little bit” he said.

India’s recent performance in Davis Cup, a tournament in which the country finished runners-up thrice in the past, may not be that noteworthy, but Ali is optimistic.

“We have talented youngsters, but they have to work very hard,” he maintained.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Sport> Tennis / by IANS / August 18th, 2019