BENGALURU Tuesday 8 September 2009
DC
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TRIVIA
sport Amazing fusion
Since Arthur Ashe, a lieutenant in the US Army, was still an amateur, he was not allowed to collect the $14,000 prize money for the 1968 men’s title at the US Open. He only pocketed a $20 per diem.
OF CULTURES MAXIN MATHEW DECCAN CHRONICLE
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hen it comes to discerning Anastasia Malhotra’s game of tennis, the rising star of Japan leaves hardly any questions unanswered about her prowess on the courts. But when it comes to perceiving her Indian origins, Anastasia is a potpourri of cultural coherence. The 19-year-old has a Japanese mom and a British father, the latter being born to an Indian-Punjabi who married a Greek. Anastasia was born in Japan, moved to England for nearly 13 years and is now back in the Asian country, pursuing her sport professionally. What’s in a name, one may ask? Almost everything. The curiosity behind her Indian surname has led many to ask her probing questions, but Anastasia is not flustered. “I’m used to people asking me about my Indian roots. My grandfather is the only Indian connection in our family tree and it’s unfortunate that I never got a chance to meet him.
I used to hang around the courts watching my dad play and got very inspired to take it up. They (parents) have supported and encouraged me throughout in my aim to become a professional player “My granny gave me the name Anastasia which means ‘risen again’ in Greek and my parents decided to carry on the Indian surname,” she said. Smitten by the sport after seeing her dad-cum-coach Roger play, the dainty damsel took to tennis when she was seven. “I used to hang around the courts watching him play and got very inspired to take it up. They (par-
ents) have supported and encouraged me throughout in my aim to become a professional player,” she said. Her climb up the national and the international ladder steadily gained form and soon she was the cynosure of all eyes in the junior circuit. “At the end of 2005, my ranking was somewhere in the 1000s but I worked hard and reached the 500s within three years,” Anastasia added. Her biggest and most cherished moment is when she defeated World No. 170 Melanie South in a gruelling 64, 4-6, 6-3 win at the $50,000 Kurume Challenger tournament at Fukuoka. Anastasia also won the Japanese nationals back to back in 2008 and 2009. Having lived in both England and Japan, Anastasia argued that the style of play differs in both countries. “In Japan, it’s more about oldfashioned strokes and baseline gameplay while in England, the game gets an all-round touch. Their technique and style is totally up to date,” she said. Recently, there were issues concerning her surname with her country’s national tennis board asking her to change it to a Japanese one. But Anastasia assured she will not lose her identity for the sport. “What they asked of me is totally unacceptable. I will not change my identity to play in Japan. The sport is seeing a decline amidst heavy competition from baseball and badminton and needs a revival,” the World No. 470 said. “Only if the All India Tennis Association (AITA) had not enforced the passport (eligibility) law, I would have been a topranked Indian player,” Anastasia grinned. The AITA has barred players of Indian origin from representing the country without an Indian passport. Down in Bengaluru to play the $10,000 ITF women’s Futures tennis tournament, the Japanese lass is enjoying every minute of it. “I love India, its people and its culture. This is my first visit to Bengaluru and I love the weather. Though I don’t have any family in India anymore, it’s always a treat to be here to catch up with friends,” she said.
As her name suggests, Anastasia Malhotra is an intriguing amalgam of different cultures. The young lass is Japanese by birth but her connection with several other countries and the love for tennis has spurred her along in the game
Having lived in both Japan and England, Anastasia believes the sport is more old-fashioned in Japan while it gets an all-round touch in the latter. — PHOTOGRAPHS BY SHASHIDHAR B.