But results of the juniors in paired events at international tournaments -- in the Asia-Oceania qualifying of the NEC World Youth (Under-16) in April-May at Hiroshima followed by the World Juniors (Under-14) at Jakarta in -- proves otherwise.

In almost every match which went the distance, the Indians' doubles failure proved crucial.

At Jakarta, after entering the top eight and needing a win to qualify, the Indian boys lost the doubles after they were tied 1-1 against Chinese Taipei. In the fight for the fifth spot, they went down to Hong Kong 1-2, again the doubles deciding the issue. The girls lost 1-2 to Australia when a win would have taken them to second spot in their group and then went down to Japan to finish sixth. On both occasions, the scores were 1-1 before the deciding doubles.

India's performance at the1998 NEC World Youth Cup offers a telling counterpoint -- the boys qualified for the World Group and finished ninth. Karan Doctor, a member of that team with Akshay Vishal Rao and Kamala Kanan, said doubles was the side's strength in that tournament. Doctor and Rao had paired up often in International Tennis Federation's under-18 tournaments which worked in their favour.

Mayur Vasant, who was at Jakarta as the Indian coach, suggested in his report to the All-India Tennis Association (AITA) the need for more doubles tournaments for juniors.

Speaking to Express Newsline, Vasant said the ideal combination would be to have a doubles specialist along with two other singles regulars, one of whom should also be a competent doubles player. He noted that juniors sometimes lacked the basic technical knowledge to adapt to doubles play and cited that shortcoming as one of the reasons for their losses in Jakarta.

Doubles is a different ball game, believed by every coach in the city contacted by ExpressNewsline. However, all insisted that their programme included doubles-specific training. The few trainees spoken to said they knew what it takes to play doubles.

Megha Vakharia, a member of the team to Hiroshima, explains the difficulties in forging a combination. ``There are no regular doubles partners. So despite a few days at the pre-championship camp, we did not get enough practice together to gel as a pair,'' said the 15-year-old, who played doubles with Lisa Pereira and T Yamini.

``Every year, a new team is formed since someone crosses the upper age limit. Thus, forming a long-term doubles combination in age-group tennis is difficult,'' she added.

Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association (MSLTA) secretary Bharat Oza believes there is a solution to the problem. ``Let the team members play against local talent in a camp of longer duration. Evaluate them up front. Trial and error is removed and a better combination can be decided,'' says Oza, who also chairs the three-man AITA Coaches'Committee.

Enrico Piperno, who coaches Mahesh Bhupathi, says a player can get good in doubles without necessarily having a regular partner. ``Play lots, against peers, against senior players and raise your game. A regular partner, of course, is imperative to form a long-term combination,'' said Piperno.

No incentive for doubles

There are no points or rankings for juniors doubles. Player response is lukewarm. With just singles as their focus, players lack the requisite energy to play serious doubles in competitions. The extinction of inter-state team competition is another blow to doubles.

MSLTA treasurer Sharad Kannamwar explains the difficulties faced by associations which have to cope up with increasing number of entries over the years. ``There are 400-500 entrants in age-group competitions. Now if there is the added pressure of doubles, then that would mean more courts, manpower and money.''

Organisers thus make doubles a casualty to avoid logistic hassles. Rama Rao, who heads thePractennis coaching centre and conducted the AITA Ranking (under-16, under-14) and State Ranking (under-10, 12, 18) meets simultaneously recently, is an exception.

Rao held doubles in all age groups for both boys and girls using his 14-court centre -- among the largest in the state -- and shot down the issue of space. ``If you have few courts, hire other centres. If the organiser is serious and wants to conduct, he can very well manage it,'' he said.

Close encounters of the losing kind

A look at India's doubles play in matches that went the distance in the Asia Oceania qualifiers of the NEC World Youth at Hiroshima (Japan) and the '99 World Juniors at Jakarta.

At Hiroshima (April 27-May 2)

Boys: India bt Thailand 2-1 (Sunil Kumar/Benjamin Xavier lost 4-6, 5-7); lost to Japan 1-2 (Sunil/Xavier lost 2-6, 6-4, 1-6)

Girls: bt Singapore 2-1 (Yamini Thukkaiandi/Megha Vakharia lost 4-6, 6-7 (2)

India boys also lost to New Zealand and China while girls went down to China, ChineseTaipei and Thailand 0-3.

At Jakarta (May 4-10)

Boys: lost to Hong Kong 1-2 (Vikrant Sane/Chatwinder Singh lost 3-6, 6-7 (4); lost to Chinese Taipei 1-2 (Sane/Singh lost 1-6, 4-6); lost to Hong Kong 1-2 (R Arun Prakash/Singh lost 4-6, 4-6)

Girls: bt Uzbekistan 2-1 (Sasha Abraham/Sania Mirza lost 5-7, 4-6); lost to Australia 1-2 (Isha Lakhani/Sania lost 3-6, 1-6); lost to Japan 1-2 (Isha/Sania lost 3-6, 3-6).

Indian girls also lost 0-3 to Chinese Taipei (Both boys and girls finished sixth)

The problem

Juniors are often ignorant of basic techniques needed for doubles play like positioning and movement around the court -- Mayur Vasant, former National doubles runner-up

A short, pre-tournament camp is not adequate to forge a combination. Communication and understanding are vital ingredients in doubles and that can come only with a regular partner -- India junior Megha Vakharia

Combinations are formed from different states with littleor no doubles play together. The brief time-frame in a camp is not adequate to form a meaningful doubles combination -- Bharat Oza, chairman of the AITA Coaches' Committee.

The possible solutions

Doubles should be made compulsory -- Mayur Vasant and Bharat Oza

There could be a separate doubles tournaments -- AITA secretary Ramesh Desai and international umpire/coach Nitin Kannamwar

Entries (singles) to tournaments have to be restricted if doubles has to be given its due -- MSLTA office bearer Sharad Kannamwar

Doubles was a part of every event 20 years back. We used to travel four months, playing across the country. Ideally, if singles are top priority, doubles will naturally follow. The more you play, the better you get -- Chetan Desai, a former National doubles runner-up

The government needs to market the game well. Get more courts and not have four children playing on onecourt. The game also needs to move to smaller towns and not remain an urban sport -- Former National champion Enrico Piperno