Somdev Dev Varman

Guwahati/Agartala, Jan. 12: Somdev Dev Varman’s stocks as Indian tennis’ new star are on the rise. So much so that his fans in Tripura and Assam desperately want a piece of him.

At least that was the mood at the Income Tax Colony in Guwahati’s Beltola area where his father, a retired income tax commissioner, has been staying for the past five years.

Old and young alike there are all looking forward to meeting the newest tennis sensation.

Role model, youth icon and trendsetter are just some of the sobriquets being used to describe him — his giant-killing run ending in a straight set loss to Croatian Marin Cilic in last evening’s final notwithstanding.

For instance, 40-year-old Sumit Purkayastha, an income tax commissioner, telephoned Somdev’s father Pravanjan today, requesting him to arrange Somdev’s visit to the colony as soon as possible.

“I have asked Sir (his father) to inform us whenever he is home next time so that we can felicitate him and introduce him to school and college students on the campus. He could be a role model,” Purakayastha said.

“I also informed him about the live screening of the final match in the colony yesterday. This was the first time that we have done a such a thing, something that we have not even done during important cricket matches. His parents are most likely to return to Guwahati on January 17. Only then will we know about Somdev’s schedule,” he added.

His feat in Chennai has also sparked similar feelings in Agartala where he is being seen as the next icon. Somdev’s father hails from Tripura.

“Since Independence, Tripura has been desperately looking for icons. Now Somdev is all set to fill in the slot of an icon that the state needs. I am sure this boy, Somdev, will be our icon and brand ambassador,” said Bikach Chowdhury, a scholar on Tripura.

Somdev’s cousin Vyas Debbarman, 25, who studied with him for a few years at Chennai’s Asan Memorial School and is now a student of Manipur’s Regional Institute of Medical Science, could not hide his joy. “When we were studying in Chennai, I used to be amazed at his energy, grit and passion for sports, especially tennis. The position he has reached today is a result of his hard work and devotion for the game.”

He also reeled off Somdev’s itinerary in the near future, saying his cousin would be off to Australia. Tripura Tennis Association secretary Sujit Roy said: “He could be a trendsetter.”