The Hindu : Sport / Tennis : Shikha Uberoi gets wildcard

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 04, 2007
ePaper

Sport

Sport - Tennis

Shikha Uberoi gets wildcard

New Delhi: Shikha Uberoi has been given a wild card entry into the $175,000 Sony Ericsson international women's tennis tournament to be held in Bangalore from February 12 to 18.

The WTA Tour event will have eight-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams as the chief attraction besides Sania Mirza and Australian Alicia Molik.

``For the remaining two wild cards, we are looking at various options. We will keep in mind deserving Indian players while also considering outsiders who can add value to the tournament,'' Tournament Director Sunder Raju, also the Secretary, Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association, said at a news conference here on Friday night.

Julian Mack, Director, Global Sponsorship of Sony Ericsson, said his company was committed to long-term involvement in Indian tennis.

``We are the sponsors of the WTA Tour and through that we are happy to be associated with Sania Mirza. We are excited to bring a fine line-up of players to Bangalore and we hope for further involvement in the growth of Indian tennis,'' Mack said from London in a conference call.

Raju also unveiled the official website of the tournament, www.sonyericssoninternational.com, and an on-line ticketing system.

Live on Zee Sports

The event will be telecast live on Zee Sports. Raju said a `Market Square' will be inside the venue complex.

``We have come up with this idea to attract the non-serious fans. In order to make them come everyday to the tournament, there will be life-style events, fashion accessories and jewellery shopping, and a high-hygienic food court,'' he said.

Anil Khanna, Secretary-General, All India Tennis Association, and President of the Asian body, was also present on the occasion. — PTI

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport