AITA confident after security review

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 12:24

Australia are scheduled to play India in a third round Asia-Oceania Group I match between May 8 and 10, but Tennis Australia asked for the tie to be moved due to safety concerns. The International Tennis Federation sent a three-member team of security experts, led by Stephen Schad of the Olive Agency, to Chennai to review arrangements for the tie.

“Schad and his team conducted meetings with the chairman of the security committee, the police, hotel staff and government authorities,” AITA secretary general Anil Khanna said.

That review was completed on Wednesday, and Khanna said he expects the matches to be held there as scheduled.

Khanna added: “The meetings went off smoothly and they will now submit their report to the ITF.

“This is a routine check and it is something the ITF do all the time.

“I’m fairly confident that the matches would be held here as scheduled,” he added.

Australia had written to the ITF asking for the tie to be moved soon after the attack on the Sri Lanka cricket team in Lahore.

The fact the Indian Premier League was also switched to South Africa, and that the Davis Cup matches would coincide with general election dates in the country, was of further concern to the Australians. But Khanna said the ITF have not indicated the Davis Cup tie will also be moved.

“We have had a top ATP event here in January and weeks of ITF and other tournaments at this same venue since then,” he explained.

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