Trivandrum: In a revolutionary attempt to promote sport through Public-Private Partnerships, the Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs, Kerala has announced a partnership with the Mahesh Bhupathi Tennis Academies (MBTA) to provide qualitative professional Tennis training in public schools across Kerala. Through the "SMILE Project", crossing over all socio-economic sections of society, the State Government with the support of MBTA aims to tap into the tremendous grassroot talent in Kerala by introducing the children to the game of tennis at an early age and subsequently selecting a core group of students to be groomed to achieve their goal of playing for India.


A pilot program under the SMILE Project was conducted at the Mudavanmughal LPS School, Trivandrum, as a summer camp between 30th April and 31st May, 2014. With over 120 students in attendance at the camp and each going back home with valuable inputs on the sport, the pilot served as the right example for the extension of the SMILE project.


Inspired by the triumphant initial step, the project is all set to conduct coaching programmes across three schools, recognized by the Sports Directorate of Kerala in Trivandrum district: St. Mary's Pattom, Vidhura School and Mudavanmughal LPS School. Exceptional students at these programmes will be invited to regular Tennis training sessionsto be held at the Mudavanmughal School in the district.


Speaking about the SMILE Project Dr. P Pugazhendi IFS, Director, Directorate of Sports & Youth Affairs, Government of Kerala, said, "We are confident that this project will provide the neceessary infrastructure and expertise that would nurture strong tennis talent in the state and will work towards encouraging them to aspire for national representation."


Delighted at the prospect of working alongside the State Government in pioneering this effort, Mr. Gaurav Natekar, Arjuna Awardee, Asian Games Gold medallist and CEO of MBTA added "We are thankful to the Kerala government for initiating a first of its kind Public-Private partnerships in sport. Through our multiple academies we have realised that although there is no dearth of talent in the state, there is a lack of strong infrastructure supplemented by a quality coaching and training program. Through this initiative of the Kerala Government, we hope to overcome those challenges and build the environments that encourage sport and create the sporting heroes the nation requires. Moving forward, the Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs has also recognized 42 schools across 14 districts in the state where the SMILE Project will conduct its camps over the near future."