The Hindu : Sport / Tennis : Bhupathi Academy launched; Binu advances

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Nov 21, 2005

Sport

Sport - Tennis

Bhupathi Academy launched; Binu advances

Principal Correspondent

KOCHI: With Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza in the city, it had to be a tennis day in Kochi on Sunday.

The Mahesh Bhupathi Tennis Academy, a joint venture with the Regional Sports Centre, was launched in Kochi this evening, with the Chief Minister Oommen Chandy doing the opening honours.

"I want to give something back to the game. That's the reason for starting the academy here," said Bhupathi, a nine-time doubles Grand Slam champion.

The RSC-MBTA centre in Kochi, the first in the South after Bhupathi's main centre in Bangalore, will start coaching beginners next month.

Bhupathi has a Kerala connection, his mother hails from Thiruvananthapuram but that's not exactly the reason for starting the academy here. "The RSC has got some excellent facilities, but it's Kerala's well-kept secret. We're now planning to host some major events here, including badminton and football," said Bhupathi who is also the Managing Director of Globosport, the sports and entertainment management company.

Badminton tourney

A major international badminton tournament at the Regional Sports Centre in 2006 December could be the first of the series. "The State Government will give all support for the badminton tournament," said the Chief Minister.

Sania Mirza landed in the city this afternoon and is on a promotional tour.

Binu Mani wins

Defending champion M. Binu Mani made short work of Biju K. Thomas 6-1, 6-1 to enter the men's singles second round of the 62nd Trivandrum Open tennis tournament at the TTC courts on Sunday.

Reynold Timothy also had an easy start to his campaign as he whipped youngster Visakh V. Gopal 6-0, 6-1 in another first-round match.

The results (singles): Men (first round): Reynold Timothy bt Visakh V. Gopal 6-0, 6-1; Sam K. Satish bt Reejo Varghese 6-1, 6-0; S.L. Arun bt K. Shaji 6-0, 6-0; Ray Karan Jesudas bt Manu S. Nair 6-0, 6-1; M. Binu Mani bt Biju K. Thomas 6-1, 6-1.

Boys (under-18): Pre-quarterfinals: G. Chandu bt Asif Taj 6-0, 6-0; N.R. Abhilash bt Viskah V. Gopal 6-2, 6-0; A. Anand bt G.L. Vivek 2-6, 6-3, 6-2; M.S. Sarath Lal bt Shyam Babu 6-3, 3-6, 6-1; Tao Issaro bt V.K. Amal 6-0, 6-4.

Under-16 (pre-quarterfinals): U.K. Jayaram bt Pritish Kishore Kumar 9-7; M.R. Rajendran bt S.Ratheesh 9-0; Tao Issaro bt S. Aravind 9-0.

Under-14 (pre-quarterfinals): Aditya Bhat bt Solomon G. Thomas 8-3; Sachin Vinoth bt Deepak Nair 8-0; H. Suraj bt Arun Enchackal 8-4; S. Unnikrishnan bt S.S. Nikhil 8-3.

Under-10 (quarterfinals): Vikram Ramesh bt Amber Warrick 8-1; Ashiq Shyam bt Arjuna Ajayakumar 8-7 (7-4); Kaamil Faheem bt Mathew T. Lathra 8-5; Aqeel Faheem bt Evan Joseph Roy 8-5.

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

Sport