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Joy @ FedEx
In Cuddalore, some goodwill hunting
Arup Chanda
Tribune News Service

Cuddalore (Tamil Nadu), December 22
The world’s ace tennis player Roger Federer was thrilled today as he took time off from the court and chatted with tsunami orphans at a small village in this district 230 km from the state capital of Tamil Nadu.

Though the children were not aware that he was the reigning Wimbledon champion thrice since 2004 and had won three US Open titles they mixed freely with the “tennis champion” and chatted happily.

Federer visited this fishing village of Thazhanguda which was wiped out by the tsunami on December 26, 2004, as a goodwill ambassador of the UNICEF.

Federer has been associated with UNICEF tsunami programmes for the last two years and had been active in raising funds and holding a tournament the “ATP All Star Rally for Relief”.

He was quite impressed by the rehabilitation efforts which added a feather in the cap of the Faridkote born Cuddalore District Collector Gagandeep Singh Bedi as he said that the district “had shown rapid progress”.

Though one of the top celebrities in the world of sports Federer spent considerable time with the orphans enquiring about the lessons being taught and individually asked them their names.

The winner of nine Grand Slam titles said, “I have spent quite some time with these children, now I know their names, age, I know what lessons they learn in school, and who their friends are. They are my friends now,” much to the glee of the district administration and the teachers.

Since this was his first visit to India Federer could compare the place before and after the tsunami but after visiting an orphanage, child care centre and a school remarked, “Things are looking bright. Kids are the future. I inspired them, and they, in turn, inspired me.’ While delivering a brief speech at the fishing hamlet he recalled the ATP’s fund-raising tournament and watched a puppet show organized by school children.

A school teacher, Tiara Begum said Federer wanted to know about the mode of teaching as the children, who are taught under an “activity-based learning system”, showed how they learnt words and identified objects through pictorial learning materials.

Replying to a question whether at the age of 25 he was entering the domain charity too early, Federer said, “I would rather step in early than late. I am in the prime of my tennis career, and I am making an incredible amount of money. I realize how lucky I have been.” The UNICEF was also discriminatory as they only allowed foreign journalists accompanying Federer.