WTA Mumbai Open likely to get cancelled for Maharashtra elections

WTA Mumbai Open likely to get cancelled for Maharashtra elections

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The third edition of the only Women’s Tennis Association tournament currently in India, Mumbai Open, could very likely get postponed with the dates clashing with Maharashtra elections. However, the organizers have sounded optimistic about the tournament getting postponed to early next year.

Apart from the elections, financial restraints are also one of the big reasons hindering the tournament getting hosted. The 125K Series tournament was first held in October-November in 2017 by the Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association (MSLTA) at the Cricket Club of India courts. 

It was then followed in 2018 and did reasonably well, but doing it this time with elections pending has seemed difficult. “With the market the way it is, it is getting to raise the required funds for even smaller local tournaments. It would be almost impossible to get the same kind of funds we had raised in the last two years to host this edition,” said MSLTA secretary-general Sunder Iyer, reported Scroll.in.

Top players like current world No 9 Aryna Sabalenka, Thailand’s Luksika Kumkhum, have won the championship, while  Wimbledon 2013 runner-up Sabine Lisicki, Saisai Zheng, Laura Robson, Yanina Wickmayer, Olga Danilovic have all competed in it previously.

The MSLTA has written to Amruta Fadnavis, wife of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the Chairperson of the Organising Committee since the start, as well WTA, and has got a favourable response.

“With the elections happening around the time, it will be difficult to hold the tournament in Mumbai. It is not a yes or no as of now but they have replied saying the tournament will be held in India when there is a slot early next year. Things will be more settled then. If we can’t host it then worst case, we will skip it for a year but we are looking to host the tournament again. It is an important tournament for India” Iyer added.

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