The Hindu : Sport / Tennis : Delayed start likely for WTA Open

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 09, 2007
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Sport - Tennis

Delayed start likely for WTA Open

Special Correspondent

BANGALORE: There is likely to be a delayed start for the Sony Ericsson WTA Bangalore Open tennis championship at the KSLTA Stadium here on February 12.

According to the KSLTA officials, with Karnataka bandh in force from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on that day, the matches might start around 6.30 p.m. instead of 5 p.m. With just three main draw matches scheduled for the evening, they feel that they could keep the schedule of the tournament on track despite the bandh.

The KSLTA officials are also on the job, trying to persuade the bandh organisers to defer it, at least by a week, so that the event goes on smoothly. They also reiterated that Government has committed strong security arrangements for the championship.

Meanwhile, players have begun arriving for the qualifying rounds, and the early birds included Indo -American player Sunita Rao and Isha Lakhani. Isha. Sunitha Rao, touted as one of the best emerging prospects a couple of seasons ago, sweated it out on court with her coach Phil.

Ticket sales

The ticket sales will commence on Saturday at the stadium and other outlets, and already the online booking is available. The stadium sports a new look with purple courts. The floodlight systems have been tested. The qualifying draw will be held on Friday as the sign-in closes at 1 p.m. and qualifying rounds will be played on Saturday and Sunday.

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