Pelti likely to give up ATP Tour c'ship
Pelti likely to give up ATP Tour c'ship
JAKARTA (JP): The ATP Tour World Doubles championship plunged
into deep waters as the Indonesian Tennis Association (Pelti)
refused to give its commitment to save the tournament from a
possible departure from the country.
Pelti Chairman Sarwono Kusumaatmadja said yesterday that the
national tennis body put its grooming program for prospective
national players above all things.
"Of course we will help them as far as we can, but we
underline the fact that we don't have a direct link with the ATP
Tour," Sarwono said after signing a memorandum of understanding
with his Dutch counterpart Ruurd de Boer at the Hilton tennis
court yesterday. Junior tennis friendly matches pitting Indonesia
and the Netherlands followed the MOU signing.
The tournament's fate now rests on the wisdom of Pelti
Honorary Chairman Moerdiono, who is also the Minister/State
Secretary. Moerdiono was the first to suggest the year-end
championship be held here.
Pelti's official in charge of promotion and foreign affairs
Eddy Katimansah has sent a letter to Moerdiono last week, asking
him to intervene the case. "Let's see within the next two weeks,"
Eddy said yesterday.
The ATP Tour scrambled all the way to save the season-ending
tournament after its local partner Televisi Pendidikan Indonesia
(TPI) announced at the end of July that it would not televise the
US$1.3 million event due to financial shortcomings.
Private television TPI promised to restore its broken deal
with the ATP Tour, provided that a third party is willing to
share the financial burdens.
"Pelti is not going to provide funds or find somebody to do
so. We just want to play a mediator role," Sarwono said.
When asked about a possibility that a cancellation of the
world doubles championship would harm Indonesian tennis, Sarwono
shook his shoulder.
"We have nothing to lose. If we fail to help both parties
reach a compromise, that's beyond our reach," he said.
ATP Tour and TPI signed a two-year broadcasting contract in
February last year authorizing the private station to provide
live coverage of the eight team-field tournament. The Swedish
pair of Jan Apell and Jonas Bjorkman took the title last year.
The championship is scheduled for Nov. 21 to 26.
Another top Pelti official, Pontjo Soetowo, insisted that the
world doubles championship should remain in the country. "What a
big loss if we miss such an important tennis event that we can
learn from," said Pontjo. (amd)