The Chhattisgarh Government will extend all co-operation for setting up a Tennis Academy in the State, said Chief Minster Raman Singh on Monday. He was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of Gondwana Cup ITF Futures (Men’s Circuit) Tournament at VIP Club, Shankar Nagar here.
“In Chhattisgarh, we would strive to promote Tennis from ground level ie from schools in the districts,” the Chief Minister said. Replying to a demand kept by Chhattisgarh State Tennis Association (CSTA) President Vikram Singh Sisodia for the allotment of land for the establishment of a Tennis Academy in the State, Singh assured that the Government will move forward in this direction.
International Tennis player Mahesh Bhupati who was also present on the occasion expressed desire of promoting Tennis in Chhattisgarh. Former Chhattisgarh Governor Shekhar Dutt along with Vikram Singh Sisodia who had played a key role in reviving the prestigious Gondwana Cup in 2011 also participated in the inaugural ceremony.
later, Bhupati was honoured by the Chief Minister on behalf of the State Government and CSTA for his outstanding contribution made to Indian Tennis. CSTA President Sisodia earlier urged the Chief Minister for relaxing State Government norms so that excellent Tennis players could also get Government jobs.
later, Mahesh Bhupati while interacting with reporters said that the International Premier Tennis league (IPTl) will take this game to new regions and attract fans. Participation of players like Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Sania Mirza in the IPTl, will make IPTl a real treat to watch, he added.