Feb 8—The Government’s move to ban sponsorship of sports events by tobacco and liquor companies has had a mixed reaction among the sports associations but most of them have welcomed the decision in the larger interest of the sports community. However, the decision will mostly affect cricket, tennis and golf, which enjoy sponsorship of the corporate sector Sports administrators feel that the effect will primarily be for a short-term, and in the long run it will help sports as sponsors other than tobacco firms will emerge. Mr Rajan Kashyap, chairman of the Chandigarh Lawn Tennis Association, said any tournament was expected to give at least double the returns to its sponsor. He said the ban was welcome, but it might take a few months to come into effect. It will have a marginal effect for a short period.
Mr Kashyap, who is busy organising the biggest tennis tournament to be held in the city, named ATP Challenger, from February 19 to be sponsored by Indian Oil- Servo, said that the other companies will start taking interest in sponsoring sports events when they see the mileage that media exposure gives.
Mr Desh Prem Azad, Dronacharya award winner in cricket, emphasised that tobacco or liquor companies were not the only ones to give sponsorship. There were others waiting in the wings. Mr Azad, who was among the pioneers who set up the Chandigarh Golf Association and the now CGA Academy with the help of the Hero Group of industries, said that health was of prime importance. He recalled that in 1964 he used to smoke, but he stopped when one day one of his trainees asked him if smoking was good for health.
Mr D.K. Mukerjee, founder of the Chandigarh Badminton Association, said that in 1994, the World Badminton Championships were held in Delhi under ITC sponsorship but it was held under the banner of International Management Group. Mr Mukerjee said that for its various national events, the Badminton Association of India had made sponsorship arrangements through Bristol. But other corporate bodies
should be persuaded to invest in sports events. Moreover, 100 per cent tax exemption for sponsoring sports events was a boon for this sector.
Mr Rajeev Kaushal, Joint Secretary of the Table Tennis Federation of India, said that sports would no doubt suffer but other multinationals will now come forward to sponsor these events. He recalled that when in 1999, they hosted the Junior National TT meet at Chandigarh, they had to struggle hard to find a sponsor. Finally, the Mount Shivalik Breweries came to their rescue.
Mr Rakesh Bakshi, secretary of the Chandigarh Football Association, said to a limited extent, sports sponsorships will suffer. But in the larger interest of the people, the impact of tobacco giants on the sport field should be restricted. bristol by using the noble sport field will be restricted.
Tennis tourney
The Senior Tennis Players Association of Karnataka held their 22nd annual tennis tournament from February 1 to 4 at the Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association Stadium, Bangalore, in various age groups.
Chandigarh veterans were represented by Kanwar Mahinder Singh in the plus 80 age group. He won both the singles and doubles titles in straight sets. Five years ago in the plus 75 age group he was ranked 17th in the world by the International Tennis Federation (ITF).
— TNS
