Tennis | If his vision is so great he should implement it, says Hironmoy Chatterjee

01/05/2019

All India Tennis Association Secretary General Hironmoy Chatterjee has stated that if Somdev Devburman’s vision to develop Tennis in India is so great he should be the one to implement it. Chatterjee responded to Devburman’s query who had asked the AITA what its vision was for the sport in India.

Former India Tennis player Somdev Devburman questioned All India Tennis Associations’(AITA) vision regarding the development of Tennis sport in India. He has received a curt reply from the AITA Secretary General Hironmoy Chatterjee asking him to execute the vision himself if he has such a great one. Devburman is a government observer who has to recommend names for the TOP scheme, which provides financial support to players.

“As far as the vision is concerned, we brought international junior, men’s and ladies events to our country and organised the same at our cost. Our players benefited, including Somdev. Ask him which was his first junior and men’s international event he won and where. We also have an internationally recognised development programme for officials and coaches.

“If his vision is so great why can’t he implement the same now that he is the government observer, entrusted to do so,” Chatterjee told PTI.

Chatterjee also explained the matter underlying Devburman’s outburst at AITA and stated that the AITA has no role in the reduction of the budget. Chatterjee also added that he is the government appointed observer since March 2017 and he should take the initiative to convince the government to not reduce the budget.

“It is for him to convince the government [to not reduce the budget] and not us as he is paid by the government to decide and recommend,” Chatterjee said.

“The COE, decided during [then Sports Secretary] Mr Injeti Srinivas’s time, was budgeted for Rs 20 crore. Rs 10 crore was to be funded by the government and remaining 10 was to be arranged through corporate funding. After Mr Injeti was transferred, [current Sports Secretary] Mr Rahul Bhatnagar felt the budget was high, which needed to be reduced. We have no role in the budget cut.”

Chatterjee also questioned Somdev’s move of not recommending Ankita Raina’s name for the TOP scheme, which the former felt was not a right decision.

“He did not feel Ankita was a deserving candidate and that she can’t win a medal but she went on to shut everyone’s mouth by winning a bronze at the Asian Games. She was number one player but she was still left out [of TOP scheme]. Why?”

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Tennis | If his vision is so great he should implement it, says Hironmoy Chatterjee

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