When tennis is about train, travellers better duck

NEW DELHI: In the last week of this month when you get off a train at the VT station, it’s not just the pickpockets you need to duck. There might be some fuzz darting about in the air.

As part of a promotional campaign for the Kingfisher Open some of the best wand artists in the world will weave their magic across Mumbai’s most famous landmarks. Marat Safin, Richard Gasquet, Lleyton Hewitt, Marcos Baghdatis and a host of others won’t just be displaying their wares at the CCI to grab their share of the $416,000 prize money.

Instead they will be spreading across the city to grab loads more attention for tennis where Mumbai has the majority of its eyeballs. Apart from the VT station, Gateway of India and Marine Drive too will have the players displaying their wares. At the same time they will be spreading the message across the world that this is a safe city and not one that need be only associated with its headline grabbing floods or bomb blasts.

“It’s time we put Mumbai on the world map. Sports is the ideal platform to showcase what the state is all about. We are backing the Common Wealth Youth Games in Pune and the Kingfisher Open also has the support of the Maharashtra government,” said Sharwaree Gokhale, Principal Secretary Sports and School Education.

In fact, this time around, the Kingfisher Open will have Mumbai emblazoned across the court beyond the baselines. Apart from the players popping up at landmark spots across the city to indulge in a bit of street tennis, Mumbai will also witness some measures which have never been done before.

For instance plans are afoot to make the world’s largest tennis ball and have it paraded across the city open for Mumbaikars to sign their wishes. That may or may not materialise but what obviously will is brand building for the city.

“Across the world events are used to promote the cities that hold them. We intend to project the positives of Mumbai to a world-wide audience,” says tournament director Gaurav Natekar.