Laxman goes to school
Former Test cricketer’s sports coaching academy launched at the Sreenidhi International School in Hyderabad
Several Hyderabad youngsters just took one step closer to their dream of playing cricket. Over the weekend, former Test cricketer V.V.S. Laxman launched his VVS Sports Academy at the Sreenidhi International School at Aziznagar in the city.
And the Academy’s first order of business was to start a coaching camp for kids.
Equipped with state-of-the-art facilities — three turf wickets for matches, two cement wickets, two matting wickets, two astroturf wickets, phyiotherapy, bowling machines, video analysis, gymnasium, a psychologist and a nutritionist — the VVS Sports Academy aims to become one of the finest cricket academies around.
Speaking at the launch of the Academy, Laxman said their objective is to “promote, develop and foster excellence in young cricketers. To help talented young cricketers raise their standards and to build future leaders, who can take the game forward with integrity.”
“The VVS Sports Academy is a tribute to the game that has made me what I am today,” Laxman said. “My passion for cricket, coupled with the urge to give something back to the game, has prompted me to come up with the initiative of setting up a cricket academy.
“I expect the VVS Sports Academy to be a place where an athlete learns and trains to improve his or her game,” he said.
Laxman assured the students that whenever he is in the city, he will spend time at the Academy, imparting his knowledge to the trainees, and keep a track of each student’s progress, strengths and weaknesses, and address them accordingly.
Keeping in mind the distance from the city, the Academy has arranged transport facilities for the trainees.
So far, 125 kids have signed up for coaching classes, which will be held across two sessions everyday, from 7 to 9 am and between 3.30 and 6 pm.