Date:01/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/01/stories/2008030159742400.htm

Sport - Tennis

Isha, Shikha get wildcards

Special Correspondent

BANGALORE: The Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association (KSLTA) has announced that Shikha Uberoi and Isha Lakhani have been given the wild cards for the Bangalore Open Championship which gets underway on March 3.

The 22-year old Isha, who is ranked 349, said: “I am extremely delighted about playing in the Bangalore Open. It’s an honour to be a part of India’s first Tier II (tournament). I am thankful to the organiser to have given me this opportunity to play with some of the top players of the world in front of a home crowd. I look forward to playing some tough tennis.”

Shikha thrilled

Shikha Uberoi, who had a career high ranking of 122 in 2005, said, “I’m thrilled about playing at Bangalore and I will make the most of it.” “We are delighted that Shikha and Isha got the wild cards. They are extremely talented and hard-working players and we wish them the best,” said C.S. Sunder Raju, the tournament director and the secretary of the KSLTA.

Meanwhile, the qualifying rounds will get underway here from Saturday and it has four Indians in the fray which includes Sanaa Bhambri, Ankita Bhambri, Rushmi Chakravarthi and the U.S.-based Sunitha Rao.

The Hungarian teenager and the World No. 19, Agnes Szavay, along with four other main draw players Shuai Peng of China, Aiko Nakamura of Japan, Sybille Bammer of Austria and Maria Kirlenko of Russia arrived this evening.

ESPN STAR Sports has acquired the rights to broadcast Bangalore Open for a period of three years (2008-2010).

The announcement of the Bangalore Open acquisition comes right after the broadcaster’s seven-year renewal of the year’s first Grand Slam, the Australian Open.

ESPN STAR Sports will showcase 20 matches live from Bangalore Open from March 3. — Special Correspondent