Calcutta: Tennis and Enrico Piperno have always found it hard to part ways. From a successful player to a notable coach, Piperno has been close to the tennis court for more than three decades.

It is only fitting then that Piperno’s name has been proposed for the Dronacharya award by the All-India Tennis Association (AITA). The man himself, too, thinks that there are few deserving candidates from his discipline for such an award than him.

“It’s really an honour that the AITA has sent my name to the government for consideration. I’m of course happy… Actually, after serving the nation for over 20 years as a coach, I deserve such a recognition. Not only am I the coach of the Fed Cup team at the present, my coaching career also includes the distinction of being the coach to Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi.”

“So having been associated with tennis for so many years, am I not a deserving candidate for the Dronacharya,” insisted the former national champion.

But then, hasn’t the AITA been a little late in recognising Piperno’s contribution to the game? The coach chose to look at the positive side of the matter. “If you ask me, I will say that better late than never… That’s what I believe,” Piperno said.

On a different note, Piperno also thinks that the game has taken a right turn in the country. While one may question that we are yet to unearth suitable replacements for Paes and Bhupathi, Piperno believes that the enhanced awareness about fitness among the players will only help them in performing better. And that is how me may get a new star.

“The game has taken a right turn in the country… There has been a change in the outlook of the players, and even the association… Tennis players nowadays are giving far more importance to fitness than they used to earlier. It’s a big change and a good change,” Piperno said.