V.V.S. Laxman stepped into a different zone which he has been longing for ever since his retirement three years ago. The former India star batsman will now start the much-awaited VVS Sports Academy, initially with emphasis on cricket, and later on other sports, on the sprawling 50-acre campus of the Sreenidhi International School in Aziznagar near here.

“I want to be remembered as someone who has contributed to Indian cricket not only as a player but also an individual who set up a truly world-class Academy to nurture the best of the young talent and transform them into performers at the highest level,” Laxman said on Wednesday.

Laxman said that since he knew chairperson of Sreenidhi Group of Education K.T. Mahi for a long time and with the existing facilities and the group’s ideology matching his expectations, he had decided to start the Academy there with the inaugural summer camp scheduled from April 4.

The Academy has three turf, two astro-turf and two cement wickets to start with and plans include expansion on a big scale. “First thing we are planning is to bring some of the best fast bowlers from England. The other area of focus is to have coaches’ seminars where experts will delve into the critical element of coaching,” he explained.

“Definitely, Gopi (former All England champion Pullela Gopichand) is a trend-setter and I always share my thoughts with him. I am aware that to run a successful Academy you have to be passionate like him and I am confident of living up to the expectations for this is not a business venture but set up with the specific objective of giving back something to the game,” Laxman remarked.

Former Ranji cricketers like Vincent Vinay Kumar (Andhra) and P. Ramesh Kumar (SBH) will be assisting him. Transport has also been arranged for the trainees from three different localities – Banjara Hills (1{+s}{+t}Innings Play School), Madhapur and Mehdipatnam,” he said.

“Since I know many champion sportspersons personally, I will also request them to visit the Academy frequently to provide the right dose of inspiration for youngsters,” Laxman said, after formally lighting the lamp in the company of his parents, wife and kids. “I just can’t think of starting anything without my family but for whom I would not be standing here,” he signed off.

It’s going to be a different ball game for V.V.S. Laxman, whose Sports Academy will focus initially on cricket, and later on other sports

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by V.V. Subrahmanyam / Hyderabad – March 12th, 2015