Indian tennis ace denies media report claiming that lucrative tennis league is in doubt over owner pullout
Mahesh Bhupathi
New Delhi: There is no threat to the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL), veteran tennis ace Mahesh Bhupathi said yesterday, asserting that none of the team owners had pulled out and a multi-year deal was firmly in place with the country's biggest broadcaster for his ambitious event.
Mahesh Bhupathi
Bhupathi woke up in Spain to frantic calls from Indian media outlets asking about the future of IPTL in the wake of a pullout by PVP Ventures as claimed by a media report.
ADVERTISEMENT
Bhupathi though said everything was on track.
"Micromax are the owners of the Mumbai franchise. PVP Group, along with Sachin Tendulkar, were in talks but deadlines were not met," Bhupathi told PTI from Spain.
"Our league is structured in such a way that players have to be paid at regular intervals. PVP's office told me that they are busy fighting elections in Andhra Pradesh. Obviously payments could not wait, so we went on and got another team in India. I have e-mail confirmation from PVP saying go ahead," he explained.
Bhupathi also revealed that Micromax have chosen Delhi as the venue so their matches will be played in the capital.
Bhupathi said he was "annoyed" with the media reports and it was baffling to see such an article.
"Everything is on track. In fact, in London, three days before the Wimbledon all the owners were there for a workshop and they all met the players. There are no hiccups, contrary to what that media story says."
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
