February 22: In 1997 Kishor Pumps Pvt. Ltd. had been roped in as sponsors for the SGFI meet. This not only brought the SGFI's National tennis festival to Pune, but also, for the first time, promised attractive cash prizes to the participants from the quarter-final onwards. Seeing the response and the potential for betterment of the game, SGFI allotted the championship to Maharashtra for a period of three years. This was backed by a commitment from the organisers - Directorate of Sports, Maharashtra Government.However, the past has today left a bitter taste in the mouth of the sponsors and the organisers. Definitely, no one would like to remember the way events have developed in the past three months.After two years of smooth conduct (1997 and 1998), the third edition has run into rough weather. Considering the manner in which the matter is progressing, there seems little hope the championship will see the light of day this year.It is learnt that Kishor Desai of the sponsors has been chasing the organisers - Directorate of Sports - since the past couple of months to finalise the tournament dates only for his hopes to be stifled by excuses and more excuses on the part of the organising officials.``They say that the Deccan Gymkhana courts were under repair, and so it's difficult to conduct the championship this year,'' said Kishor Desai when contacted by this reporter. Surprising, for the officials seem to have forgotten that Pune has more than 100 tennis courts, and if the organisers were really interested the meet could have been held on the double-venue format - simultaneously at the PYC Gymkhana and FC College (both are at a distance of not more that two kms from each other).However, there could be more than meets the eye. Rumours doing the rounds claim the organisers have failed to clear Deccan Gymkhana's bill for last year. And it was when Deccan Gymkhana asked the government body to first clear its debts and pay an advance this year, that the disregard of commitment first surfaced.When contacted, VM Deshmukh, deputy director of sports, said, ``It's the sponsors liability to pay the dues. The expenses for erecting gate banners at Deccan Gymkhana was not in our budget. It was from the sponsors.'' He, however, denied receiving any such bill from Deccan Gymkhana. ``I have no idea whatsoever about the said bills.''About the commitment, Deshmukh said, ``We had sent the proposal to the Government for the third edition, but are yet to receive clearance,'' He added, ``We may conduct the tourney next year.''Desai too denied having any knowledge of pending dues to Deccan Gymkhana. Says he, ``In fact, I am very concerned about the championship because for two years it carried the name of the company as well. If it is not held for the third year, it will give us a bad name.'' Desai did not let the lethargy shown by the Directorate of Sports deter him earlier. He expressed his willingness to sponsor the event anywhere in India. But, unfortunately for the tennis players, even after speaking to SGFI officials, he failed to receive any encouraging response from the parent body.With the final school examinations of most of the student players approaching, prospects of the tournament for this year now appear bleak. The scenario must disappoint Maharashtra, champions twice running, and eager for a hat-trick.Not surprisingly, those involved are not coming forward to comment openly about the episode. ``Possibly,'' as someone said, ``because they are dealing with the Government body.'' Nevertheless, Kishor Desai's enthusiasm has not flagged a bit. Maintaining his commitment, he is still willing to sponsor the event next year. Will the country's tennis players, who are by and large an ignored lot, get this chance to prove their mettle? They, after all, are the ones with most at stake.
