Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, SEP 19 (NPN): The story of Metba Phom, a boy from Nyang village in Longleng district, who left home at the age of 12 to pursue professional tennis training, is one of resilience, sacrifice and determination. Today, nearly two decades later, he stands as an internationally recognised tennis coach in Dubai, having been appointed lead coach at the Mouratoglou Tennis Centre in 2025 and becoming the first Naga coach certified by the Global Professional Tennis Coach Association (GPTCA).
Born the youngest of nine siblings, Metba’s introduction to tennis came while studying in Dimapur. Initially unfamiliar to his family, the sport gradually became his passion. In 2006, he was selected through an All India Tennis Association (AITA) talent identification programme, one of only five youngsters from the Northeast chosen for professional training in New Delhi.
Leaving home at such a young age meant adjusting to independence far earlier than most children. Festivals and family gatherings were often missed, as his life revolved around training, competitions, and correspondence education. His parents, though uncertain about tennis, trusted his decision — a turning point that shaped his journey.
As a player, Metba competed in junior and senior events across India, earning AITA ranking points and tournament victories. A highlight came in 2016 when he won the men’s doubles title at the North-East Open. Yet, the demands of competitive tennis — training, travel, equipment and financial support — posed recurring challenges.
There were moments when he considered giving up, but his perseverance kept him connected to the sport. For him, tennis was not just about competition; it was about discipline, endurance and mental strength.
Eventually, his experiences as a player evolved into coaching. His firsthand knowledge of the struggles faced by young athletes without proper facilities or resources became the foundation of his coaching philosophy.
In June 2022, Metba moved to Dubai, joining the Sania Mirza Tennis Academy, where he gained exposure to international coaching methods and programme management. This experience broadened his perspective, teaching him not only how to train players but also how to manage professional programmes and interact with diverse athletes and families.
His career reached a new milestone in 2025, when he was appointed lead coach at the Mouratoglou Tennis Centre, part of the global tennis network founded by renowned coach Patrick Mouratoglou. His GPTCA certification added another feather to his cap, opening doors to wider professional opportunities and connecting him to the international tennis community.
Despite his success abroad, Metba’s vision remains rooted in Nagaland. He believes the state has immense talent but lacks infrastructure, coaching, equipment and competitive exposure. His ambition is to help build stronger grassroots structures, beginning at the district level, where children can be identified early and nurtured systematically.
He envisions pathways that allow athletes to progress from local competitions to state, national, and international levels. His own journey — leaving home at 12 to chase an opportunity — drives his determination to ensure future athletes do not face the same uncertainty alone.
Metba’s journey has also been marked by personal hardship. His father, whom he regarded as his greatest role model, passed away in 2018 while Metba was pursuing his career in Delhi. The loss deeply affected him, but he returned to the sport with renewed determination, carrying forward the lessons of perseverance he had learned from his father’s resilience.
For Metba, perseverance was not just a lesson from the tennis court but a way of life. His father’s example of managing responsibilities and hardships in raising a large family continues to inspire him.
Metba urges young athletes to identify their strengths, pursue them with determination and remain humble even in success. He emphasizes balancing academics with sport, reminding them that circumstances do not define potential.
His message is clear: “Identify what you are good at, pursue it with determination, believe in yourself, work hard, remain humble and avoid giving up when progress is slow.”
Nearly two decades after leaving Nagaland, Metba’s journey has come full circle. Once a young player searching for opportunities, he is now a coach determined to create them for others.
His long-term ambition is to mentor young athletes, encourage more children in Nagaland to take up sport and contribute to building a stronger sporting culture at the grassroots.
Through it all, Metba attributes his success to God, whom he believes has guided him at every step. His story is not just about tennis, but about resilience, vision and the belief that talent from even the most remote corners can shine on the world stage.
The journey from Nyang to Dubai has taken nearly twenty years — years of training, missed festivals, time away from family, setbacks and moments of doubt. But it has also transformed Metba’s understanding of success. He began as a young player looking for an opportunity to compete. Today, he is a coach looking for ways to create opportunities for others.
His story stands as a beacon of hope for young athletes in Nagaland and beyond. It is a reminder that while circumstances may be difficult, perseverance, discipline and faith can carry one from the remotest village to the global stage.