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WHAT was only a flicker 85 years ago has today flared up into a flame. Brightly and brilliantly it glows. No where in the world possibly is there another club which can so completely identify itself with tennis in the whole country. Its growth gives the complete picture of Indian tennis from its earliest to the latest stage.
Till 1934, the All India tournament of the club, called the Calcutta Lawn Tennis Championship (AITA approved), was held in March. From 1935, its name was changed to the East India Lawn Tennis Championship. In due course, this assumed the form of the National Championship of India. Visits of the foreign teams to India were started by the club from 1929.
Due to its playing, training and coaching facilities , Bengal became the nursery of Indian Tennis. Dilip Bose, Sumant Misra, Naresh Kumar. Premjit Lall. Jaidip Mukherjea, Gaurav Misra. Akhtar Ali, Bidyut Goswami, Chiradip Mukherjea, Zeeshan Ali, Leander Paes, S.Fazaluddin have been its products. Sixteen of its members have represented India in Davis Cup, a record by itself. Beginning with one grass court in June 1920, the club has kept on providing world standard playing environment by building grass, clay and rubberised asphalt courts. It has today seven grass; eight clay, four lighted; two fully flood lit rubberised asphalt courts. Perhaps this is the only tennis centre in the world to have all three types of surfaces.
To help the players build up strength and relax, it has added gymnasium, bar and restaurant to its infrastructure. To give match practice, national and international tournaments are held regularly on its courts. Its grass courts, which has a very high percentage of success for home team , have been the first choice of India's home Davis Cup ties. It was the highest tribute to this place that the greatest event in the history of Indian tennis, India's first entry to Challenge Round, occurred here in December 1966. International tennis fraternity has given its grass surface the name of 'Wimbledon of East'.
While good clubs are getting beyond the reach of common people due to regular enhancements of admission fees, the club has kept its costs within reasonable limits to give 12 days afternoon play of three hours guaranteed to members every month on monthly subscription of Rs.200 with no extra charge for balls. Admission fees are Rs.10000 and Rs.20000 for playing and associate members at a time when others take lakhs for membership. It is still maintaining its motto, "Justice to all", by keeping the play open so that even non members can play throughout the week in the morning, afternoon and evening at very nominal charges.
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