AITA’s move to restrict private promoters from having a free hand at conducting ATP and WTA events in India is a well-thought out and precisely executed chop to clip the wings of Mahesh Bhupathi.
The tennis body will no longer allow private entrepreneurs to run events in India; also comes down heavily on players demanding apperance money
NEW DELHI: AITA’s move to restrict private promoters from having a free hand at conducting ATP and WTA events in India is a well-thought out and precisely executed chop to clip the wings of Mahesh Bhupathi. Henceforth sans the direct involvement of the AITA no big tennis tourney will be allowed.
The move comes in the wake of the Bangalore ATP event (promoted by Reliance ADG) being cancelled on account of so-called security concerns even as the World billiards championship is being held there. With Globosport backing out of the Sunfeast Open, scheduled for Mumbai in the second week of October, AITA had the necessary ammo to wrest control.
Reining in Globo
Globosport, Bhupathi’s management company, has been at the forefront of bringing in WTA events to India. But an August 26 official communication to the AITA states:
“The WTA event in Mumbai has been cancelled since we have decided to sell our sanction to another party”.
AITA secretary Anil Khanna’s assertion that backing out from prior commitments “hurts India’s image in the tennis world” has merit. In a release the body has accused the company of not “submitting its foreign exchange agreements for tournaments it has conducted despite repeated requests by AITA”. That, in turn, does not allow the AITA to ascertain just what has been the actual cost of an event.
Globo, given Bhupathi’s influence in the media, has managed to get away with a lot over the last few years and Khanna has been looking for just the right time to clamp down on it. The opportunity arose now.
Sania rapped
Discussing the issue of our own players withdrawing from events held in India on account of appearance money issues, Khanna was categorical that with the AITA’s involvement the issue will disappear. “These junior players who have now become big players must remember they grew out of our tournament structure. I see no reason why they should have only a commercial approach to tournaments in India,” said Khanna.
Alluding to the Sania Mirza controversy vis-a-vis the Bangalore WTA event, Khanna said: “There are wheels within wheels as far as appearance money goes. There is no reason why a person who would normally cost $25,000 should suddenly want $100,000.”
Code of conduct
AITA has also decided to enforce a rigorous code of conduct, which will bar players from talking to the media sans the captain’s sanction whenever they play for India. Mirza’s participation in the Beijing Games opening ceremony without the traditional saree also got the federation unnecessary recrimination. All such occurrences happen, AITA officials feel, as there is no binding code of conduct.
The big game
Ardent Bhupathi supporter from the past Jaidip Mukherjea has been wooed by AITA by making him in-charge of a new committee that will look to control the training and tournament schedules of the top-20 men and women players from the country. Their grants from AITA will depend on his nod.
This in turn makes the federation more powerful in controlling players even as it tries to shear Bhupathi of his support base.
Vijay Amritraj’s involvement with the cancelled Bangalore ATP has also been highlighted in the AITA release. His connivance in the Davis Cup player revolt against the captain has obviously not gone down too well and the federation is sending a subtle signal to him that his clean image is in danger. All of this, of course, comes just a few days after Khanna and other office bearers have been elected for another four-year term.
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