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)