The Hindu : Sport / Tennis : Junior tennis to get a major boost

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Friday, Aug 10, 2007
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Sport - Tennis

Junior tennis to get a major boost

Special Correspondent

Series of five tournaments for u-14 and u-16
Vijay promised to try and attend the tournaments

BANGALORE: Junior tennis in the country is all set to get a major boost with the launch of the Good Earth Super Series, a nationwide tennis development programme which is being promoted by the Avesta Good Earth Food Products with support from Havas Sports India Ltd. and Jetix.

The series, which envisages five tournaments for under-14 and under-16 juniors at Chennai, Hyderabad, New Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai, starts in September and culminates with a Masters event featuring the champions of the regional legs in early 2008.

The Good Earth Masters winners also get a chance to play a few events in Europe, especially in France. The programme has the backing of State Associations, such as the KSLTA and the national body AITA.

It has also seen the involvement of tennis legend Vijay Amritraj, according to the CEO of Good Earth Sandip Dang.

“The guidance from Vijay has made vital difference and Vijay along with his son Prakash, will also attend the events whenever it is possible and interact with the players,” said Mr. Dang. Vijay Amritraj said that it was highly laudable that a firm like Good Earth chose to focus on junior tennis. “In my younger days, I never had such a programme and it is critical that young talent need support and by choosing junior tennis, Good Earth has embarked on a unique quest which deserves all our support,” said Vijay.

Vijay promised to attend the tournaments whenever he was in the country.

He said that the older generation of players and officials should show their commitment to youngsters. Vijay also cautioned that corporate support such as Good Earth’s should be a long term commitment.

C.S. Sunder Raja, secretary of the KSLTA, welcomed Good Earth’s initiative, which he said was aimed at broadening the base of grassroot tennis.

Series schedule: At Chennai (from Sept. 3); at Hyderabad (Oct. 15); New Delhi (Nov. 12); Bangalore (Nov. 19 ) and Mumbai (Dec. 24 ). (Masters dates and venue will be notified later).