ABOUT FIST   

FIST, the Foundation for Indian Sporting Talent, is a
charitable non-profit trust started in Jan 2006 with an aim
to provide financial support, training, global exposure and
expert guidance to young people who show exceptional
talent in the game of tennis.

The brainchild of ten-time grand-slam winner and Padmashree
award winner Mahesh Bhupathi, FIST is an open-ended trust
that strives to raise funds from corporate houses and wealthy
individuals- funds that support a select number of young
people below the age of 18 who have the exciting potential
to become champions given the right training and exposure.

FIST is a unique initiative: it is a long term program, devised
by a panel of experts that aims to use the best resources in
India concurrent with highly productive tie-ups with globally
acclaimed programs and experts to give the selected juniors
the best of both worlds. With uniformity in teaching techniques
and a holistic approach that encompasses fitness, diet, game
strategy, and post match analyses, FIST addresses every
detail essential to breeding champions.

FIST is also unique because it is a non-profit venture. The
young aces that emerge from its training will contribute a
percentage of their earnings to support the fund and its
programs after they turn professional, ensuring ongoing
relationships, building responsibility in young champions
towards the tennis community and regular funding.

Tennis in India

Sport is a great unifying force. It gives young people
confidence and direction on and off the field. It creates
winning attitudes and positive mindsets, births passion and
ignites healthy competition. Cricket, India’s favourite sport,
thrives because of extensive funding and the love people
have for it. However, at the India A team level, it only provides opportunities for a limited number of champion players.

Tennis is different- it is an individual sport, allowing many
more people the chance to shine, to carve out their own paths
in the race for rankings.

Tennis is no longer seen as an elitist sport in India- it has
now grabbed the interest of kids from every corner of country.
India has had superb players over the years, but now, young, cool, inspirational role models like Mahesh Bhupathi, Leander
Paes and Sania Mirza performing brilliantly in the world arena
has youngsters all over the country enthused with the spirit
and commitment to take up this most challenging of games. Sania’s tremendous rise and talented play in the last few years has made her a superstar, and an excellent role model,
especially for girls in India.

India is also host to four international annual tennis events-
two WTA events and two ATP events which have brought
down international greats such as Martina Hingis, Martina Navratilova, Tommy Robredo, and Tomas Berdychm to the
delight of Indian tennis enthusiasts.

It’s a great time to be playing tennis in India!

Can India produce more champions?

We have the latent potential. We have some superb trainers.
We even have resources and equipment available. However,
so far, no-one has attempted to bring all these scattered
resources together, to combine expertise, talent and funding
that will generate excellence in tennis. We are the first to recognize that producing world-class players requires expert selection coupled with perseverance and sustainability.

The right coaching, physical training and diet have to fuse with
the ability to compete on an international level, on different
surfaces and environments, to hone the killer instinct and
consummate self-belief that are the essential qualities of
champions. Champions who cannot be born overnight….
Who need years of nurturing and disciplined training on par
with international standards.

And then there is the fact of minimal, ad hoc government or
association support for tennis in India. Compare this to the UK,
the US and China who have established and well-oiled systems to identify and nurture sportspersons. The UK has a budget of
over 15 million pounds per annum for tennis alone.

The ingredients that make a true winner are inherent talent,
long-term commitment, focused funding and a good shot of
sheer luck. That’s a lot of factors that need to come together-
often leading to good intentions being abandoned due to lack
of follow through.

And so FIST was born.

FIST as an idea and Mahesh Bhupathi as a selector and trainer
is a surefire winning stratagem. Mahesh has both the expertise
and the experience to spot and groom the younger generation
to be winners. His experience and guidance coupled with corporate and individual financial help at home and abroad through FIST promises to revolutionize the tennis landscape
in India. Helping to fulfill the promise of kids with sparkling
futures in tennis. Filling the gap in the processes that develop champions.
 
Contributors to FIST, whether in India or the USA, receive tax
exemptions, and can be assured that the funds directly benefit
the cause they are supporting.