India will host Aussies

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has given a green signal for the Davis Cup tie between India and Australia to go ahead in Chennai after it got a positive report from its security consultants.

The ITF had sent a team to the southern city for assessment following a request from Tennis Australia to change the venue because of security concerns after the November 26 Mumbai attack last year as well as the attack on Sri Lankan cricketers in Pakistan last month.

“The location and venue have been approved by the Davis Cup committee,” an ITF official confirmed to DNA from London about the third and final round tie of the Asia/Oceania Group I to be held from May 8 to 10.

Though Australia can still go in for an appeal, their federation officials are said to have virtually ruled out protesting the ITF’s decision.

As for the All India Tennis Association (AITA), they were always convinced there were no security issues. “We were confident of the venue being cleared and are sure of hosting the event in the best possible manner,” said AITA Executive Director Ranbir Chauhan.

The association had been confident of hosting the event successfully since they had organised the annual Chennai Open ATP event in January, which too was after the Mumbai attack.

Indian officials had shown the visiting ITF team the planned arrangements for the Davis Cup tie, which will use more or less the same infrastructure and officials as the ATP event.

The AITA officials had also discussed security issues at length with the state police and government officials and were promised full co-operation by them. The winners of the India-Australia tie will advance to the World Group play-offs.