Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Goa State Tennis Association, in partnership with the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs, has introduced its first school-level grassroots tennis programme at Dayanand High School in Chorao. The launch brought tennis training to the island region for the first time and marked the beginning of a long-term plan to expand the sport across Goa’s hinterland. The event was attended by MLA Premendra Shet along with several local sports supporters and school representatives.
The programme follows the Play and Stay format, an internationally recognised system that introduces young students to tennis through modified equipment and progressive stages. Under the guidance of ITF-certified and AITA Level-1 coach Hazel Fernandes, supported by physical education instructor Rohan Naik, the six-month training schedule began with strong participation from students eager to experience the sport. The format allows children to start with beginner-friendly red balls before gradually advancing to orange, green and finally standard tournament balls. This progression ensures that students develop racquet skills, coordination and confidence at a comfortable pace. The structure is also flexible enough to be conducted indoors or on open grounds, enabling schools with limited facilities to adopt the programme with ease.
The Association plans to expand this initiative to 20 schools across the state, with 10 each in North and South Goa. This phase aims to introduce nearly 200 children to organised tennis training and establish a growing pool of young talent. The long-term objective is to strengthen the grassroots structure and create more pathways for competitive development.
During the launch, the MLA participated in the introductory red-ball activities and conveyed interest in extending similar programmes to Bicholim and surrounding areas. The event was also attended by GSTA officials and school management members who shared their support for the initiative.
The new programme marks a significant step in bringing structured tennis training to schoolchildren in rural regions and is expected to play a central role in broadening the sport’s reach across Goa.
