Asians-only meet mooted

Tourneys will enable lowly ranked players to travel and pick up points

First, it was a European Tour event in golf. Then came an announcement from the Indian Olympic Association IOA about a Formula One Indian Grand Prix in October 2009. Now, it8217;s the turn of tennis: an Asian tour.

The brainchild of a Sports Ministry official, the idea came up for discussion during a recent meeting with All India Tennis Association AITA secretary Anil Khanna, who immediately endorsed the importance of a Asians-only tour. The reason: Indian players can improve their rankings in a series of matches against fellow Asian players.

Khanna, who is also president of the Asian Tennis Federation ATF, now plans to table the idea within the ATF and discuss the possibility of such a tour. 8220;I am keen on it and would soon be getting in touch with people in the Asian body,8221; he told The Indian Express.

AITA sources confirmed that the International Tennis Federation ITF would soon be brought into the loop. 8220;The response from ATF has been encouraging so far. If the tour goes as planned, it will enhance the profile of Asian tennis and help players who cannot afford to travel and play in the European circuit,8221; said the Sports Ministry official, who did not wish to be named.

8220;Our players don8217;t have the kind of exposure or facilities that the Europeans, especially those from the East European nations get. We have to raise the standard of our players and that is possible only if they get opportunities to rub shoulders with the best in the region,8221; the official added.

The Sports Ministry is willing to help AITA plan its programmes, including funding to help players travel on the tour. 8220;Travel is the biggest problem. With a tour like this happening in neighbouring countries, our players can travel and play more frequently,8221; said the official.

According to him, with more wins and points under the belt, the rankings of Indian players within Asia and on the ATP ladder will shoot up. 8220;The AITA should be able to get the sanction of the international body because the tour is an added incentive to the players in the region,8221; he added.