The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Advantage CRY at tennis charity auction

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jan 06, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Advantage CRY at tennis charity auction

Sandhya Soman

Vijay Amritraj auctions memorabilia at Rolex Charity Evening

BATTING ON: Tennis legend Vijay Amritraj posing with the `Maria Sharapova' cap and the cricket bat signed by Rafael Nadal and Kris Srikanth at the Chennai Open auction held on Friday. — Photo: K.V. Srinivasan

CHENNAI: If the Chennai Open is in full swing, can the annual charity auction of tennis memorabilia be far behind?

The crowd at the Rolex Charity Evening at the Park on Friday evening proved that they were game for charity, albeit `heavily' encouraged by tennis legend Vijay Amritraj on microphone to buy autographed T-shirts and sneakers. The evening started with Mr. Amritraj talking about how the auction helped to enjoy, have fun and raise money for a good cause. This time the beneficiary was Child Rights and You (CRY).

The fun part dominated with vintage Vijay Amritraj having a constant dialogue with the audience. Sample his opening line for the `Rafael Nadal T-shirt' and mini bat (cricket) package: "Did he (Nadal) win today?"

Yes, said the crowd.

"Then he is worth something," declared Amritraj.

The first item went for Rs.20,000 after Amritraj helpfully suggested that the `minibat' would look great on the hallway. Next in auction was the `American item'- John McEnroe shoes and James Blake T-shirt and headband - followed by Pete Sampras T-shirt and Jennifer Capriati T-shirt.

However, the powder pink Maria Sharapova cap held centre stage with Amritraj himself donning it. "Doesn't it go with my tie?" he checked with the audience who were already in splits after his cracks about the weekend stay at The Park. The cap stayed on even after the bidding got over, with the gentleman who bought it periodically reminding Amritraj about the ownership.

Amritraj asked the `girls' to pitch in for Carlos Moya shoes and T-shirt. A David Nalbandian T-shirt, a Pat Cash headband, a Tata Open T-shirt signed by Rafael Nadal, Paradorn Srichapan, Robredo, Woodbridge, Mahesh Bhupathi, a mini bat signed by Nadal, all went for handsome 15,000s and 20,000s.

And finally, a forty thousand from a phone bidder for a real size cricket bat signed by Nadal and Kris Srikkanth.

On the whole, close to a lakh was collected with event sponsor IMG promising to chip in with an amount equalling what was raised through auction.

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