Cauvery heat forces WTA event organisers to delay start

Bangalore, Feb 9 (UNI) The ongoing agitation against the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal and the call for a Statewide bandh have forced the organisers to delay the start of the main draw matches of the 175,000 Dollar Sony Erricsson WTA Bangalore Open, beginning on February 12.

The main draw matches, initially scheduled to start in the morning, would start at 1830 hrs after the bandh was over.

According to Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association (KSLTA) sources, the Organising Committee, in a meeting held here today decided to begin the main draw in the evening and restrict it to three matches. The decision was taken in view of the security threat and to enable the spectators to arrive.

The organisers have decided to take out a vintage car rally with leading main draw players, including Australian Open Champion Serena Williams, from the Chancery Pavilion Hotel to the Vidhana Soudha, the State Secretariat, where Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy would pick the draw for the main event to be held from February 12 to 18.

Meanwhile, the qualifying round, which would begin tomorrow, had attracted as many as 32 players, including 11 from India.

UNI