The Hindu : Sport : Bangalore Open launched

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Bangalore Open launched

Principal Correspondent

Legends all praise for the effort

— Photo: K. Bhagya Prakash

STAR-STUDDED SHOW: The Bangalore Open 2008 WTA event was launched on Thursday with luminaries like Prakash Padukone, Vijay Amritraj and Pankaj Advani gracing the occasion.

Bangalore: Amidst technicolour lights, loud music and a dash of confetti thrown in, while sporting champions Vijay Amritraj, Prakash Padukone and Pankaj Advani held centre-stage, the Bangalore Open 2008 WTA event was launched with a touch of style at the KSLTA Courts on Thursday night.

The annual women’s tennis event is scheduled to be held from March 3 to 9.

“It has been a journey fraught with excitement, a few question marks and a lot of effort and I am happy to say that the Bangalore Open has been made a Tier II event and will be the biggest in this part of Asia with a prize money of $6,00,000 and 300 ranking points,” said KSLTA secretary Sunder Raju.

Bigger and better

Sunder Raju and later Vijay Amritraj promised that the annual event had got bigger and better. “The upgradation from Tier III to Tier II status reflects the efforts put in by the KSLTA, the Karnataka Government and the backing given by the passionate lovers of sport in this State”.

“This tournament is possibly the single largest prize money event in the country and Bangalore continues to remain on top,” Vijay Amritraj said.

Prakash Padukone and Pankaj Advani lauded the KSLTA for its efforts in promoting tennis and the duo were invited as part of the theme envisaged by the KSLTA — ‘celebrate sport, celebrate tennis.’

Padukone’s pat

Padukone stressed that KSLTA and many other sports associations in the State are administering their sport well.

“Perhaps there is a lesson to be learnt by National level sports bodies from our various State associations in promoting sport. I wish the KSLTA the very best for this tournament,” Padukone said.

Pankaj added, “I was asked recently about my `New Year’ wish list and I stated about hoping that Bangalore would host an international sports event and with the launch of the Bangalore Open, I am happy that my wish has come true.”

Leading stars in fray

The event is expected to feature leading players from the World and the Indian challenge will be helmed by Sania Mirza. “With good health and fitness, I am sure Sania can go a long way, given the desire, hard work and attitude that she has for the sport,” Amritraj said.

“We expect about two players from the top ten and overall four from the top twenty for this tournament and when this tournament is being held in March, there is no competing tournament of this magnitude anywhere in the World so we expect a strong players’ field,” Sunder Raju said and added that the final players list and sponsor details would be known during mid-February.

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