Tennis

2012 / 2013 Tennis Season Hosted by the **American School Bombay** (ASB) - November 30-December 3, 2012
 * Season:** October - December, 2012

Coaches: **Kostas Gabriel**, **Shiva**


 * __Tennis at AISCH__: Tennis** has been one of the most succesful programs at AISCH. For the past few years our tennis teams (boys' and girls') are at the top of the SAISA Tournaments, finishing **first**, **second** or **third** since 2006. During the **2011-12** season, our team won the overall **Championship** **Trophy**, by finishing **first** on the girls division and **second** for the boys. The girls had to compete against three other schools, while the boys against four. The girls had an outstanding SAISA tournament by winning all their **30 games** (30-0, seeds 1, 2, 3 and 4 and doubles seeds 1 and 2 , all went undefeated). The boys went **25-11** on their tournament with many points coming in the doubles and the low seeds. The players, **Mira**, **Tarini**, **Momoko** and **Memei** and for the boys **Rahul**, **Aakash**, **Aadvanan** and **Yad**. From this team, only Aakash is graduating, so we are looking forward to another great season. **Sigapi** and **Priya** are ready to step up and challenge the top female players, while **Jordan** and **Dhanush** are looking forward to get into the top 4 male team.

T**he 2012 Try-Outs:** We started the season on October 15, During the first week we worked on basic skills and getting to know the players.During the second week of practices we had a lot of rain so we had to improvise by doing drills that don't require the full use of the court. As of Thursday, November 1st we had the following students on the roster: Boys: **Yad, Rahul, Dhanush, Donatien, Dakota** and **Jordan**. Girls: **Mira, Momoko, Meyyemmai** and **Priya**. Only 4 boys and 4 girls will make the traveling team. The boys will have their seeding games this coming Saturday, while the girls will have to wait until the week of November 19th due to MUN and Diwally. Due to bad weather and the different activities (UN Day, MUN Conference) we didn't have as many practices as we wanted but all my players are dedicated and eager to show their skills. On November 3rd(Saturday) from 9-11 in the morning our players will travel to the Stadium at Numgambakkam for some seeding games. We will return there on Saturday, November 17th and 24th.

Saturday, November 3rd, we were at the Stadium in Numgambakkam for an early practice. Some players were missing because of the Chennai Model United Nations. After some games to detetmine the seeds, **Rahul** is # 1 for the boys' with **Jordan** # 2, **Yad** # 3 and **Dhanush** # 4. **Mira** is # 1 for the girls, **Momoko** # 2, **Meyyemmai** is # 3 and **Priya** is 4th. **Rahul and Yad** will be our # 1 doubles team with **Jordan and Dhanush** are the # 2 seeds. **Mira and Momoko** are the # 1 doubles team with **Meyyemmai and Priya** are the # 2 seeds.

Our team returned from the SAISA tournament in Bombay with the **Championship Trophy**. Our girls won easily their division with a **25-3** record, while the boys came in second, missing the first place trophy by 4 points (189-193) to Dhaka. Their game record was **38-14**. Overall the Raptors easily came on top with **341** points, followed by Bombay A (311), Dhaka (299), Karachi (144) Bombay B (133) and Lincoln School of Nepal (106). This is the second year in a row our young athletes finish at the top. I would like to thank my senior athletes, **Mira** (undefeated in the last three years in SAISA), **Rahul,** **Yad** and **Dhanush** and wish them the very best in the future. The remaining of the team (**Jordan,Maymay, Momoko and Priya** ) will try to make us proud again next year. A big THANK YOU from coaches Gabriel and Shiva to all the players for an outstanding year.


 * What to Do:** If you are a returning player, use the summer holidays to play a lot of tennis and get **faster** and **stronger**. Work on your **endurance** and **stamina** and put some emphasis on the things you can do better. If you are new to the school, contact **Coach Gabriel** (cell 9500059947 or email him at gkostas@aisch.org)


 * Practices:** After school, every school day from **4:00 to 5:30** (No Thursdays) on our four courts and on selected Saturdays at the Stadium, where the Chennai Open ATP 500 Tournament is taking place every January. The season starts on **Monday, October 15, 2012** and ends after the SAISA tournament (**American School Bombay**), on **December 4th, 2012.**