Coaches

At just eight years old, Ranjit Thakore began his journey in tennis as a ball boy at the Ahmedabad City Tennis Foundation (ACTF) in 1981, during a time when the sport was still in its infancy in Ahmedabad. Born and raised in Navrangpura Gam, Ranjit never imagined that his role of collecting stray balls would one day evolve into becoming one of the most sought-after tennis coaches in the city.

Today, Ranjit is celebrated for his pivotal role in nurturing Ahmedabad’s budding tennis talent. His coaching journey has been instrumental in shaping the careers of many of the city’s tennis stars, including Vaidhik Munshaw, Samip Mehta, Suraj Desai, Suraj Kanwar, Rishabh Parikh, and Vaibhevi Trivedi.

Passion for Coaching and Mentorship

Ranjit’s students are younger than ever, with many under the age of 12, and the youngest being just five-and-a-half years old. His dedication and the seriousness of his students and their families reflect a shared goal: to develop champions.

“I used to hit 1,000 swings, 1,000 services, and a similar number of shots daily,” Ranjit recalls of his early years teaching himself tennis by emulating the greats he admired on TV. His efforts paid off, as he emerged as the runner-up at several Gujarat State Championships.

A Decade of Transformation

Between 1985 and 1989, Ranjit served as an assistant coach at ACTF while honing his skills. However, he stepped away from tennis from 1989 to 1999, choosing to work in the New Cloth Market. But the tennis court called him back, and he returned to coaching, eventually taking up the role of head coach at one of Ahmedabad's top academies.

In 2007, Ranjit made a triumphant return to ACTF, where his fortunes soared as he continued his mission of shaping young talent.