Six hard courts at NTC

By Lal Gunasekera

TENNIS: Six hard courts at a cost of around Rs. 15 million are to be completed by March 7, the latest at the National Tennis Centre (NTC) at Greenpath, while its opening is scheduled for March 31.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Sri Lanka Tennis Association (SLTA), Lionel Almeida, told the Sunday Observer that a mini tennis court too is to be constructed with floodlights also to be installed on every hard court which is costing a further sum of Rs. 6 million.

Earlier, there were 1 1/2 courts at the NTC, but one was completely taken up for the road widening scheme of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) some years back.

The energy company Aggreko has pumped in Rs. 2.5 million, Brandix Rs. 2.5 million, Janashakthi Insurance Rs. 1.25 million, Alex Paulsen from Denmark (a personal friend of Almeida) a further sum of Rs. 2.5 million.

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) is to chip in with Rs. 2.5 million, while Mike Chumley of the Life Style gymnasium has also pledged Rs. 2.5 million. Dimo's are to install the floodlights for the six new hard courts costing Rs. 6 million.

Almeida further said that there is still a short fall of Rs. 3 to 4 million, but is confident that the SLTA could raise the needed finances from other sources.

However, the SLTA's request for financial assistance from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has had "no response at all".

Meanwhile, six juniors (three boy's and three girl's) are now in Pakistan playing in a Junior ITF tournament, while trials for the Junior Davis Cup and Junior Federation Cup which are to be held in April are now in progress at the NTC.

Sri Lanka will have to play the pre qualifying rounds in Delhi and if selected later on in Malaysia, at the Junior Federation Cup and in Thailand for the Junior Davis Cup.

The World Junior Championships for boys and girls are also to be staged in Delhi, India in April, while the Davis Cup (Asia/Oceania Zone Group III) is fixed to be held at the NTC in Greenpath on the new hard courts from July 16 to 23 with eight countries taking part, including Sri Lanka.