New Delhi, April 25 (Inditop) The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has said that Australia’s pullout from Davis Cup in India next month will not impact the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games, and asked the International Tennis Federation (ITF) to take stringent action against Tennis Australia (TA) for defying the apex body.
TA Saturday refused to send its team for the May 8-10 tie in Chennai after the ITF board turned down its appeal to shift it out of India.
“ITF had declared the venue safe and Australia should have followed it. ITF should impose a heavy penalty on Australia for taking such an irresponsible decision,” IOA secretary-general Randhir Singh told Inditop Saturday.
“Australia had some apprehensions about the 2010 CWG (Commonwealth Games) also but that has been sorted out and they are now convinced about the security situation here. I see no reason for TA not to send its team to India.”
Randhir, who is also the secretary general of Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), sounded confident that the Australian decision will not impact other major events in the run-up to the CWG.
India will be hosting major sporting events – badminton World Championship (2009), hockey World Cup and AFC Challenge Cup before the CWG.
“OCA president Sheikh Ahmad Al Sabah was here in Delhi just two days back and he backed India to host the Asian Games in 2018. He assured other nations that there are no security issues in India. I am sure other nations will see the larger picture.
“We successfully hosted big events like Commonwealth Youth Games last year. The participating nations were appreciative of the security cover. Davis Cup is just a three-day affair.
“Australia’s decision is not a setback for 2010 CWG. The preparations are going on smoothly. You cannot club India with Pakistan. There is no such danger looming here as projected by TA. If that is the case, then security around the world is a problem.”
rounak