Bangalore among bid cities to host '08-'09 Championships

Bangalore, June 15 (UNI) Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association (KSLTA) today announced that Bangalore had been selected among finalist bid cities to host the 2008-2009 Sony Ericsson Championships.

KSLTA earlier this year had put forward its bid to host the event.

Bangalore was selected among finalists after an extensive and competitive global bidding process began earlier this year that included expressions of interest from numerous major international cities in hosting the richest and most prestigious event on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour.

The winning city was expected to be announced following the Tour's Board meetings during Wimbledon later this month.

''We are thrilled with the level of global interest in hosting the 2008 Sony Ericsson Championships,'' said Sony Ericsson WTA Tour CEO Larry Scott.

''The incredible popularity of women's tennis around the world, and the equity that has been built in our season-ending crown jewel event, was evidenced by the strength of the bids that each of Bangalore, Doha, Istanbul and Monterey have put forward. We were thrilled that three different continents are represented among the finalists.'' KSLTA Honorary Secretary Sunder Raju Said, ''we have worked very hard to put forward a competing bid and are happy that Bangalore was among the finalists city to host the event. We are very hopeful of winning the bid,'' Mr Scott said.

''Bangalore and KSLTA are well equipped to host this prestigious tournament. Having successfully hosted Sony Ericsson WTA tour tier III tournaments in the last two years and also the ATP World's Doubles Championships during December 2000 and January 2002, we have the experience and know-how to manage and conduct a tournament of this magnitude.'' The Sony Ericsson Championships, featuring the top eight singles players and top four doubles teams, is one of the most coveted sporting events in the world. As part of the Tour's strategy it had been showcased in different key markets around the globe in world-class venues.

Over the course of the past years, with the addition of Sony Ericsson as title sponsor and an incredibly successful inaugural year in Madrid, the event had reached new levels of popularity, prestige and global exposure.

This year's Sony Ericsson Championship was expected to be another stellar competition in the event's long and distinguished history, which dates back to 1972 and has included the all-time greats of the sport, such as Billie Jean King, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf and Monica Seles.

UNI