Chief Minister Raman Singh on Monday compared himself to a batsman who hits that ‘sixer’ in the last ball in a closely contested cricket match to register victory.
“I am a player. In year 2003, 2008 and 2013, my party won the match. People’s mandate in BJP’s favour had been given consistently for the last three occasions. So, 2018 is a final round for us. It is very natural that who plays the game with maturity till the last ball will be better placed. But, one who hits a six in the last ball will also emerge the winner’.
He was interacting with media persons during the inaugural session of Gondwana Cup All India Tennis Tournament 2018 at VIP Club here.
Singh further remarked, “Being a player, I have the tendency to put in all efforts to play till the last ball. We have recorded victory in last three assembly polls . My team till the last moment has put in their best efforts. The decision of the match this time is locked in EVMs.We are expecting to win this time too.”
He said : “We have faith in the people of the State. We would not require assistance of any party as with full mandate, BJP will be able to form the government,” the Chief Minister stated.
Singh earlier inaugurated the five-day All India Gondwana Cup Lawn Tennis tournament organized by the Chhattisgarh State Tennis Association.
Rohan Bopanna Arjuna Awardee was the special guest on the occasion.
The tournament will conclude on December 7. Thirty-two players from Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam and New Delhi will participate in the prestigious Cup.
The Chief Minister wished the organizers a successful tournament.
He said the Gondwana Cup which is eight- decade- old had seen many ups and downs.
The Cup had established an identity of its own all over India. International repute players- Riyaz Latif, F.X. Santiago, Saddharth Vishwakarma and Abhijit Tripati, Jaideep Mukherjee, Vishaal Nayyar-had participated in the Gondwana Cup.
Chhattisgarh State Tennis Association President Vikram Singh Sisodiya provided detailed description of the steps taken to popularize lawn tennis in the State. Chhattisgarh Tennis Association Treasurer Lawrence Santiago, Chhattisgarh Olympic Association Treasurer Vishnu Srivastav, office-bearers of Tennis Association, Tennis players and fans were present.