One of the most interesting events in Indian tennis, also one of the most desired events is likely to take place in the city of joy, Kolkata this year. The event will see two most popular characters in recent Indian tennis Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi playing against each other in an exhibition tie. The pungent relationship between the two stars is also known to the whole sports fraternity.
But this time, it will not only be the dual between Paes and Mahesh. Additional attraction is also there. Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis are also likely to feature in the exhibition match. The initiative has been taken by former Indian Davis Cup skipper Jaydip Mukherjee who has already preliminary discussions with West Bengal state sports ministry.
And according to the preliminary discussion, the doubles tie between the pair of Paes-Martina and Bhupathi-Sania might be staged at the Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata on September 25. One of the senior officials of the state sports ministry said on condition of anonymity, “Following an assurance from Mahesh Bhupati’s company we have also reserved Netaji Indoor Stadium from September 24 to 30.
The date will be finalized only Hingis confirms her participation dates.” Martina Hingis, the former Wimbledon champion who has been listed in the world’s all-time great female players, had already participated in Sunfeast Open tennis championship in 2006.
According to the state sports ministry officials, Mahesh Bhupathi wants to revive his tennis school by organizing this exhibition match. The former Davis Cupper had introduced a tennis school in Rajarhat, a place in North 24 Parganas, two hour drive from Kolkata. But after the death of Kumar Shankar Bagchi, the key patron behind the foundation of this tennis academy, the school has almost been on the way towards closure.
Now, by organizing this exhibition tie, Mahesh wants to bring tennis in his school back. That is why, according to the state sports ministry, Mahesh has plans to organize a two-day clinic for his school students as well as for the students from Jaydip Mukherjee academy during that period where these four international tennis stars is expected to be present and give advice to the students.
But while taking initiative for the match at Netaji Indoor Stadium, organizers had initially received a blow when they found that the stadium does not have fire extinguishing system! Even, it was not known to the state sports ministry officers.
They became extremely worried as president Pranab Mukherjee is already scheduled to address in a conference, to be held at Netaji Indoor Stadium on August 22. Now, the state sports ministry hierarchy seems to be in an emergent situation to set up fire extinguishing system at the Netaji Indoor Stadium.