Kottayam: George Thomas discovered his love for tennis at a young age and continues to dominate the court at 70 years old, making him the top-ranked Indian player on the ITF seniors tour.
Since 2019, George has excelled in the 65+ category, climbing the ranks to become number 1 in the 70+ age group nationally and securing a world rank of 58. He aspires to represent India in the 2024 ITF World Championship in Europe, thanks to his impressive singles and doubles ranking points.
Following a successful engineering career with multinational hotel chains in the Gulf, George pursued his passion for tennis in Kottayam, where he resides with his family and trains at the Rama Varma Union Club. His accolades include championship wins in the Middle East and Kerala.
From Football to Tennis
Originally from Vennikkulam in Pathanamthitta, George was a football player during his school days and continued to pursue the sport while studying in Bombay (now Mumbai). After working in India for a period, he transitioned to the hotel industry in the Gulf in 1976, all while maintaining his love for football. However, his interest shifted towards tennis in 1980 after being inspired by Indian tennis icons Vijay Amritraj and Anand Amritraj.
“I was inspired by the way they played the game and I went for some coaching in tennis. I took up the racquet when I was in Bahrain. From there I went on to work in Oman, Dubai, Ethiopia, and Fujairah. Somewhere in between, I went down in my game. After retirement, I chose to stay in Kottayam to continue my practice,” George shared.
Beyond his impressive career on the court, George is a certified coach for both the USNTA (United States National Tennis Academy) and AITA (All India Tennis Association) and currently serves as the senior coach for tennis and squash at ATLETO Sports in Kottayam. Notably, George has coached numerous young stars, including his daughter Simi Thomas, a national champion in Bahrain.
Fitness Secret
George’s rigorous training regimen at the Ramavarma Club, which includes daily sessions from 5:30 pm to 8 pm, has been a key factor in maintaining his fitness. He also participates in mini-marathons and incorporates upper body exercises into his routine, emphasizing the importance of running for fitness. George is an advocate for establishing more playgrounds in society, believing that they are more important than super specialty hospitals.
George has participated in various ITF tournaments across India, securing victories in locations such as Vijayawada, Jhajjar, Jaipur, Darjeeling, Sholapur, Bhilai, Jalandhar, Pune, Delhi, and Indore. He is now preparing for upcoming matches in Mumbai in December. Additionally, the Serbian legend Novak Djokovic holds a special place in George’s heart as his favorite player, admiring Djokovic’s remarkable success as a 36-year-old maintaining the world No. 1 position for over 400 weeks.
Jessica Roberts serves up the latest in the world of tennis. With a love for the racket sport, she reports on tennis matches, player rankings, and Grand Slam events, ensuring readers stay informed about the tennis world.
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