The Hindu : South Asia's only ATP event will stay in Chennai

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Feb 05, 2004

Sport

Sport - Tennis

South Asia's only ATP event will stay in Chennai

By Our Sports Reporter

Vijay Amritraj presenting a bouquet to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, after thanking her for her support in helping to keep the ATP tournament in Chennai for another five years, at the Secretariat in Chennai on Wednesday.

CHENNAI, FEB. 4. After several days of angst-ridden debate a decision has finally been taken: South Asia's only ATP fixture will continue to be played in the metropolis at least for another five years, but under a new name — The Chennai Open.

And, says former Indian tennis star Vijay Amritraj, credit largely goes to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, J. Jayalalithaa, who "showed great initiative'' to ensure that the tournament remained in the city after the last sponsor, the Tata group, backed out.

The Tamil Nadu Government now proposes to establish a Chennai-based consortium of sponsors to fund the event as the target remains $ 2 million each year. The State government has already agreed to contribute Rs. 1 crore each year over the next five years. Indian Bank will contribute an equal amount as a `platinum category' sponsor, while the Murugappa Group will spend Rs. 50 lakh as a `gold category' sponsor.

Addressing a press-conference at the Madras Cricket Club on Wednesday, Amritraj said that he was "overwhelmed by the remarkable support" extended to him by the Chief Minister when he met her earlier in the day.

"Words are one thing, actions are another,'' he said. "I would like to thank the Chief Minister who showed great initiative in sanctioning Rs. 1 crore immediately."

Amritraj also said he was elated by the fact the event would remain in his hometown.

"I wish we had this sort of support when I was growing up. The facilities now are incredible, we have a world-class tennis stadium in Chennai, again thanks to the Chief Minister," he added. "The Chennai Open can be a great way to promote tourism and we will be working with the State tourism authority on that."

Asked what innovations might be expected during the first edition of the new-look tournament, Amritraj, who will be Honorary Chairman of the Chennai Open for five years starting 2005, said the organisers hadn't looked that far into the future. But he promised they would come up with something after "putting their heads together."

Also present at the press conference were Ravi Krishnan, Managing Director IMG-TWI (South Asia), P.W.C. Davidar, Member Secretary of the State Sports Development Authority and V. Narayanan, President, Tamil Nadu Tennis Association.

Mr. Narayanan said that Chennai-based corporates had always extended support in the past when approached. "We will shortlist our other sponsors by February 28," he said.

"We can confidently say the Chennai Open is here to stay," said Mr. Davidar.

Mr. Krishnan emphasised the need to promote Chennai as "a brand to contend with." He was optimistic that the Chennai Open would remain a permanent fixture.

"Hopefully the event will go on for several more years, like the New South Wales Open, which has been held for more than a century, and maybe a hundred years from now we will see someone from IMG and perhaps the Amritraj family holding a press conference," he said.

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