EKTA comes in the wake of the unfortunate demise of the Batra Tennis Centre (BTC), which had Bal as the mastermind. The BTC was shifted to Deccan Gymkhana for a while before the reputed 10-year-old centre formally closed down in March 1999.

EKTA will provide the premise for the new academy over the next five years after which the contract could be renewed.EKTA, which houses four clay courts, is owned by Maharashtra State Police Motor Transport Department is given on lease to Econ Construction, which in turn have handed over the premises to Bal to run the new tennis scheme.

``I will start with coaching beginners. It will take almost three years to spot talent and seven years after that to groom kids in advance training in order to bring them to National and international standard,'' says Bal.

Balwill also continue with his higher-level coaching at Deccan Gymkhana. ``I cannot leave the boys midway. They still want me, and I will keep on giving my best as long as they want me,'' he says.

Helping Bal will be player-turned-coach Narendranath and Madan Gokhale with more joining later.

Bal's dreams? ``Making EKTA into another BTC.''