THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Trivandrum Tennis Club is hosting the ITF Futures $15,000 prize money tennis tournament for men, March 20 - 25. The clay court championship will see several Indian Davis Cup team members, as well as international players, ranked in the top 500 of the ATP world rankings. Entry for the public is free. The Rs 9 lakh prize money contest coming to Kerala for the first time has a budget of Rs 32 lakh. The qualifying rounds have already been kicked off, but the official inauguration will be held by chief secretary S.M. Vijayanand on Monday evening. The local favourite would be Haadin Bava, state champion in 2014 and one of the key players that helped Kerala secure its first ever bronze medal in the 35th National Games, 2015.
“Apart from Haadin Bava, two other local players, Mohammed Sidhan and Gautham Krishnan, who had joined TTC as trainees and evolved into the reigning state men’s champion and current boys U-18 champion respectively since. Local players would get a boost if the locals come and cheer them,” said Biju B. Soman, honorary secretary, TTC. The tournament will also see international players battling it out from countries like Germany, Hong Kong, Taipei, etc. Former national champion and Davis Cup player Nitten Kirrtane conducted a clinic with TTC student trainees here on Saturday.
