Apollo Tyre ropes in Bhupathi for India's first slam winner hunt

New Delhi, May 23 (UNI) India's ambitious search for a Grand Slam single's winner might come to an end within the next ten years, by when tennis star Mahesh Bhupathi believes Apollo Tyre's initiative to pump in 100 crores will produce a home-bred champion.

''It is a big day for tennis in India. We have heard a lot of complaints of Indians been found wanting when it comes to delivering at the international stage in sports due to lack of infrastructure,'' Bhupathi told mediapersons at the capital today.

''Apollo's initiative could change the face of Indian tennis.

I am proud to be a part of this endeavour to find India's first Grand Slam title winner,'' he opined.

He stressed ''We will make sure the champion is bred at home.'' Apollo Tyres unvieled its long-term plans to infuse one billion rupees in the next 10 years to produce the country's first ever Grand slam winner by 2018.

However, Bhupathi feels if all plans are implemented properly, the country can have a Slam champion before the target year.

''It's not far-fetched to produce a Slam winner before the target. There is no grass-root system here. We are going to build the system. Hopefully in the next six years, we will not have youngsters complaining anymore,'' he said.

There are speculations that Bhupathi might use his contacts to hold talks with some of the biggest names in tennis to visit India for a 'Legends tournament' in December when he travels to Paris on Friday for the French Open.

On the steps he intends to produce India's first Grand Slam champion, the former doubles world number one said, ''We are going to set up an elite panel comprising of global experts. As a first step we will identify around 20 kids and thereafter we are going to add five to six kids in the age group of 12-15 year-olds every year.

''The ground work has begun. We will pick up five to six youngsters from June. Our immediate goal is to tap talent by having mini tennis,'' he said, but cautioned that it's a 10-year plan and it would take some time.

When asked whether talents would be scouted from the rural areas as well as tennis was perceived to be a rich man's game, Joint Managing Director of Apollo Tyres Neeraj Kanwar said, ''We are not going to discriminate in sports as we will scout talents from far-flung areas too.'' ''We needed professional guidance so we chose Mahesh as his credentials in the tennis fraternity is well known,'' Kanwar added.

Apart from Bhupathi, Apollo Tyre has also roped in his current doubles partner Radek Stepanek of Czech Republic.

Bhupathi revealed plans are on to organise a two-day mega-event in December 1 and 2 this year where international stars will be invited to take part in the Delhi Gymkhana event.

UNI