World Open may be shifted

Anil Singh, Managing Director of Procam Sports, said: quot;As of now, no decision on changing the venue has been taken. But we Procam will be having a meeting with the sponsors Mahindras and the PSA shortly and a final decision will be known within the next week.quot;

Bangalore appears to be the likely alternative to host the championship should the all-important meeting decide not to risk holding the world meet in Mumbai.

John Nimick, the executive director of the PSA, told The Indian Express in April that quot;while the success of the championship is important, the safety of the players wouldbe our paramount considerationquot; as far as the PSA was concerned.

Nimick was reacting to the threat by the Shiv Sena to the mega event 8212; the richest-ever in the history of the sport. The Sena was emphatic that Pakistani sportspersons and artistes would not be allowed to perform on Indian soil as a protest against the killings of innocent Kashmiris by Pakistani militants.

Their belligerent stance forced the cancellation of eight-time world champion Jansher Khan8217;s proposed coaching in Mumbai from May 8-10. Jansher obviously did not want to take any chances after learning that about 100-odd Sena activists had prevented famed Pakistani ghazal singer Ghulam Ali from giving a concert in Mumbai, vandalised the place and musical equipment and roughed up the organisers.

There are around 12 Pakistanis in the top 100 of the PSA world rankings. And unless the PSA sees a significant change in the attitude by the Sena towards Pakistani sportspersons, the Mahindra World Open is almost certain to be shifted away fromMumbai.