The Hindu : Sport / Tennis : AITA upset about ‘publicity stunts’

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Tuesday, Sep 30, 2008
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AITA upset about ‘publicity stunts’

Special Correspondent

Government to spend Rs. 21 crore ahead of Commonwealth Games
‘AITA will not let companies get away with false propaganda’

NEW DELHI: The consistent advertisements about the creation of a Grand Slam singles champion from India by 2018 through the Apollo Tyres initiative, has attracted sharp criticism from the All India Tennis Association (AITA).

Addressing a press conference after the subject had been brought under the public scanner in a section of the press, the secretary-general of the AITA, Anil Khanna, emphasised that it was not just the company concerned that was promoting tennis, as was being projected.

“We had congratulated the company when they announced the initiative in collaboration with Mahesh Bhupathi, here last year. We will be happy if the company fulfils its commitment.

Reminder

“However, after the executive and annual general meetings recently, it was decided that the company had to be reminded that there were many others including the government and private sponsors who were working for the development of the game in the country, and that the company’s commercials were giving a misleading impression that their commitment alone would make a Grand Slam champion,” said Mr. Khanna.

He said the company was asked to give details including the money spent on the game and the blueprint, so that duplication of efforts could be avoided. He added that there was no response despite a reminder.

“The government will be spending about Rs. 21 crore over the next two years on the development of tennis players for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

The AITA is also spending substantial amount along with the affiliated units.

“The funding required for international events including Challengers, Futures, ITF juniors, ATF juniors, Asian Championships, Davis Cups, Fed Cups, junior events will be close to around Rs. 20 crore for 2009,” he said.

Bottomline

The bottomline was that the AITA was upset about the company getting publicity without actually spending too much money on the game. It was also argued that Rs. 100 crore was not enough to make a Grand Slam champion, and the case of Britain that was spending about £40 million every year was shown as an example.

He reiterated that he had nothing against 10-time Grand Slam champion Bhupathi, but said the AITA would not let companies get away with false propaganda.

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