Rare honour for SLTA, Gymkhana
 

BY DINESH Weerawansa

HISTORY will be created when Gymkhana Club hosts Sri Lanka's first ever ITF International tennis tournament, outside the National Tennis Centre courts of the Sri Lanka Tennis Association (SLTA), next month.

The SLTA has given the rare honour of hosting the ITF Men's Futures tournament at the Queens Gymkhana Club courts, Mailtland Crescent in Colombo from November 28. Thus, Gymkhana Club would become Sri Lanka's first ever triple international venue in cricket, hockey and tennis.

One of the leading sports and social clubs in Sri Lanka, the Gymkhana Club is represented by CCC, CH & FC and the Queens Club in cricket, rugby, hockey, squash, tennis and the very latest addition - swimming.

Under the able leadership of the present club President Shammi Silva, the Gymkhana Club has constructed a modern swimming pool.

The club is also a Test venue in cricket and hockey and with the hosting of the one million-rupee ITF Men's Futures tournament, it would also be listed as an international venue of the International Tennis Federation.

Chief Executive Officer of the SLTA, Lionel Almeida said it is a rare honour to host a tournament of this nature in Sri Lanka. He said all entries would be entertained directly by the world governing body and that the ITF would finalise the draw and inform the local tournament committee.

Almeida, better known in rugby circles as a reputed player of yesteryear and a former SLRFU President, said the tournament would attract international players ranked between the top 500 to 1000 in the ITF World ratings.

He added that some of the top Sri Lanka Davis Cup players too would make their presence felt during the weeklong tournament.

He disclosed that tennis is the fastest growing sport in Asia and with the promotion and development plans implemented by the SLTA over the past few years, the sport is catching up fast among teenagers.

He said the SLTA President Suresh Subramaniam is keen to give all possible support to promote the game at school level and the clubs which show positive interest on developing the game and hosting national and international level tournament.

He said the SLTA gave the responsibility of hosting international tournaments to member clubs under their supervision and that the SSC successfully hosted the ITF Men's Under-18 tournament at Maitland Place courts last year.

However, he said this is the first major international level tournament to be awarded to a member club.

The SLTA CEO stressed the importance of hosting international tournaments of this nature to give home advantage for tomorrow's international players.

He added that the key to India's recent success in tennis has been the opportunities given by the Indian Tennis Federation to local players by hosting over 20 ITF ranked tournaments per year.

Immediately after the tournament in Sri Lanka, most of the players would take wining to India to play in three similar ITF Men's Futures tournaments.

Tournament Director, Romesh Fernando, who is also the Hony. Treasurer of the Gymkhana Club, said it was a great challenge to host a tournament of this magnitude and that their leading club is ready to face it with confidence.

He thanked the principal sponsor of the tournament - Dubai-based Ascon Construction & Investment which had pumped Rs. 1.5 million as sponsorship money.

Fernando said finding such a huge sponsorship to meet the attractive prize money was a great challenge but the organising committee was able to go for the goal due to the inspiration and support given by the SLTA President Suresh Subramaniam and Gymkhana Club president Silva.

The ITF Men's Futures tournaments have been the stepping stone foe many world class players and have produced many Wimbledon and Grand Slam champions. The qualifying rounds would be played prior to the main events for the slots permitted in the main draw.

The tournament Director also disclosed that internationally ranked players from all five continents in the world would be seen in action at the forthcoming tournament. They will be playing both in the singles and doubles events.

The main singles draw, to be finalised by the ITF in London, would comprise 32 players and the main double draw could entertain in the doubles event.

The organisers expect a high standard of tennis, probably the best ever played in Sri Lanka. Hence, tennis crazy local spectators are out for a good treat of some fast and exciting tennis by the end of next month.