Airtel aces the 99th National Tennis Championships

Saturday, 9 August 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Bharti Airtel yesterday announced its sponsorship of the 99th Tennis National Championships. This is the mobile telephone giant’s second involvement with a major local tennis event, having sponsored last month’s Colombo Championships. The 2014 National championships kicks off with the junior events on 8 August through to 24 August, after which the Open and Wheelchair Tennis events will be worked off from 15 – 24 August. The championships will be held at the SLTA hardcourts in Green Path.

Speaking about the sponsorship Bharti Airtel CEO – Sri Lanka Suren Goonewardene said, “Airtel prides itself on being an alive, inclusive and respectful organisation. The benefits of tennis are similarly inclusive in nature in that it can be played by people of any age or competency. Of most importance to us at Airtel, is the culture of scrupulous honesty that the game of tennis operates within. It is a sport that requires passion, dedication, precision and is played based on trust and respect which is all that Airtel stands for. Our sponsorship of this tournament reflects our desire to maintain these virtues within our own organization, and amongst the Sri Lankan business community.” “Bharti Airtel’s decision to support a second event is obviously good news for Sri Lanka tennis. The company sponsored the Colombo Championships last month and is now extending its support to the Nationals. The Nationals is singly the country’s most prestigious tennis event, and to have a high profile corporate entity as sponsor will no doubt give the 99-year championship added value,” said SLTA President Iqbal Bin Issack. “It is wonderful that Bharti Airtel Lanka sponsorship covers a period of four years – just the sort of long term commitment the SLTA requires from sponsors so as to help raise the level of the country’s tennis.” According to Tournament Director, Udith Wickremasinghe, Bharti Airtel’s sponsorship has already had a healthy impact on the National Championships. “Because of Airtel’s generous sponsorship we were able to keep the entry fees low during the sponsorship period, which has resulted in a steady increase in the number of entries during the last 3 years. This year we have been able to attract a record number of entries reaching to 750. The Junior events have attracted 650 entries which is a record for the Junior Nationals,” Wickramasinghe said. Entries for the Nationals close on Saturday 9 August and the draw is scheduled for 13 August. Organisers expect over 150 entries for Nationals, which feature singles and doubles events for men and women as well as mixed doubles. The official ball for the tournament will be Dunlop. Airtel Lanka made its foray into the field of sports sponsorships in the year 2012 through its associations with Manchester United and football, rugby, tennis, golf, rowing, cricket and basketball. The company has been involved in the development of sports, as evidenced by its various sponsorships at school, district and national levels. While Airtel Lanka continues to be involved beyond just a mere investment with all its sports sponsorships stakeholders, it is committed to developing local talent to international standards, thus fostering school sports to new heights as well as contributing actively towards the positive development of youth in Sri Lanka.