OID ‰‹‰ † K OID ‰‹‰ † OID ‰‹‰ † M OID ‰‹‰ † C

The Times of , New Delhi TIMES SPORT Monday,September 8, 2003 21 Sorry for interruption By Ashis Ray TRAIL nless there is a complete volte face, mil- lions of tennis lovers in India will be de- pearance. However,grudgingly,Doordarshan Unied television coverage of India’s — to their credit have been instrumental in World Group qualifying round tie carrying all the mentioned events. against The Netherlands from Sept 19-21. This year, too, Doordarshan broadcasted The Davis Cup, effectively the sport’s India’s two preliminary ties in the World Cup, involves over 140 nations, includ- Asia/Oceania Zone — versus Japan and New ing the might of the entire industrialised Zealand — paying hefty sums. But now when world. India are not only top most in Asia but India have reached the more advanced stage have the distinction of being the ninth most of the World Group qualifying round, Door- successful tennis playing nation of all time, darshan says it has no money. As a national with a current ranking of 14. They have broadcaster, Doordarshan have a duty to ex- thrice reached the Davis Cup final. Sensa- tend exposure to all sports, especially the tionally, Ramanathan Krishnan beat Rod ones with relatively lesser corporate en- Laver in four sets on the only occasion they dorsement. Foreign or private networks, who met in this competition. now abound in India, do not appear to be in Amazingly, despite the quite remarkable the habit of rendering such support. performances since the 1920s no away Davis Admittedly, will be absent at Cup tie of the Indian team was covered live Zwolle. Take the case of Great Britain whose on TV until the clash with China in 2001. top stars Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski Such transmission has, since, taken place missed the tie against Australia in April. The from Japan and the United States the same match timings co-incided with middle of the year; and from Lebanon, New Zealand and night in the United Kingdom. Yet BBC aired the Australia in 2002. It wasn’t easy to convince rubbers live on their flagship, terrestrial chan- the national broadcaster, Doordarshan, that nel, BBC1. Great Britain are, incidentally, one as far as tennis is concerned, nothing is more place below India in the world rankings. applicable to Indians than a Davis Cup ap- Next Monday: Davis Cup World Group semis

TOID80903/LR1/21/M/1TOID80903/LR1/21/C/1TOID80903/LR1/21/K/1TOID80903/LR1/21/Y/1 CMYK