Guwahati: In a historic boost for Northeast sports infrastructure, the 91 Yards Club on Saturday laid the foundation stone for its state-of-the-art tennis facility at its campus near the ACA Stadium in Barsapara, Guwahati. The ceremony was graced by two global tennis greats—Australian legend Anthony “Tony” Roche and Indian Davis Cup icon Jaidip Mukerjea—marking the beginning of an ambitious new chapter for tennis in the region.
The upcoming 91 Yards Club Tennis Centre will house four ultra-modern courts, dedicated player facilities and international-standard support services. The project aims for completion within eight months. Tony Roche, a 16-time Grand Slam champion and former coach to Roger Federer and Ivan Lendl, unveiled the foundation stone alongside Jaidip Mukerjea. They were joined by Devajit Saikia, General Secretary of the 91 Yards Club and Secretary of the BCCI, whose leadership has propelled the club’s rapid growth.
Also Read: Assam Govt Grants Special Leave for Delegates Attending 65th Bodo Sahitya Sabha Conference
Roche praised the initiative, noting the region’s potential to nurture world-class talent with proper infrastructure. Both legends also offered key technical guidance to shape the academy to international benchmarks. A special interaction session moderated by senior journalist Wasbir Hussain followed, where Roche shared insights from coaching world number ones like Patrick Rafter and Lleyton Hewitt. Mukerjea reminisced about Indian tennis’s golden era and emphasised strengthening grassroots training in emerging cities like Guwahati.
The event also featured significant strategic collaborations. The 91 Yards Club and the Calcutta Cricket & Football Club (CC&FC), represented by President Saurav Chatterjee, signed a reciprocal partnership agreement to advance joint sporting initiatives. CC&FC conferred Honorary Membership on Devajit Saikia for his contributions to sports administration, while 91 Yards Club extended Honorary Membership to Tony Roche, Jaidip Mukerjea and Saurav Chatterjee. Rapidly emerging as a premier multi-sport and lifestyle destination, the 91 Yards Club’s new tennis centre reaffirms its commitment to fostering excellence and expanding opportunities for Assam’s sporting talent.
