Sports

How is TPL going to Change Tennis in India?

7 months ago
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Tennis Premiere League

In a country like India, where Cricket is like a religion and widely followed, it is not that easy to promote any game or sport due to a plethora of reasons from sponsors to fanbase. In these tumultuous times, tennis is being promoted with much fanfare in the name of Tennis Premier League (TPL). The co-founder of the TPL Aditya Khanna, says, “We started the league after we had seen other leagues with international stars, and to popularise the game.” Further, he stated that “those were not financially viable, and we felt there was a gap with no league for Indian players. We wanted to close that gap for Indian pros, juniors and seniors together in a shorter format.”

How is the Team divided?

With eight teams split into two groups, the TPL system lets 7 to 8 games be completed in three hours or so. Each match has 20 to 30 points, and the team with the most points wins (not the match), so each point is significant. The TPL has eight teams, and each match between two teams is worth 80 points. A match has four games: singles for men and women, doubles for men and women, and mixed doubles. Each game is worth 20 points.

Venue

The Tennis Premier League will be from December 12 to 17 held in Pune’s Balewadi Stadium. The idea was to promote tennis in India and young Indian tennis players to the world stage.

What is new in the TPL format?

Some of the features seen in the league include a fast-paced 20-point format, a TPL mobile app, merchandise, and the engagement of Bollywood stars. Aside from the blue turf of the Australian and US Opens, the red clay of Roland Garros, and the green grass of Wimbledon, the TPL will include a charcoal grey tennis court at Pune’s Balewadi Stadium.

Top Auctioned Player 

Sumit Nagal, India’s top-ranked male player, was purchased for Rs 18.5 lakh and Karman Kaur Thandi pockets ₹8.5 lakh at a TPL auction in October, while other high bidders included international players such as Ernest Gulbis, Dennis Novak, and Maria Timofeeva. The basic salary for an Indian tennis player in the TPL is around Rs 8-10 lakh.

Tennis Star Cast and Bollywood Glamour

The presence and participation of Bollywood stars Taapsee Pannu, Rakul Preet Singh, Sonali Bendre, Malaika Arora, Arjun Kapoor, and Sonu Sood, as well as global tennis stars Leander Paes and Sania Mirza, significantly boosts the overall worth of the tournament.

Also Read: Indian Cricket Team Use Trolleys As Umbrellas Upon Arrival In South Africa

TPL is a Boon for Young Aspiring Players

Nagal, India’s best player and ranked No. 138, recently told PTI that it was hard for him to make money on the ATP Tour. Tennis has always been a competitive and expensive sport. To get enough ranking points, prize money, and a career that lasts, players have to travel around the world and play in more and more events. 

“We need to celebrate what we have (players).” We need to praise them (the present set of players) equally, more, and within their context. Once they are recognised as stars, they will receive additional support to help them reach a larger platform, which is necessary. “What we do has a small impetus.” Co-founder Khanna says we need to celebrate such players. Once they are recognised as stars, they will receive additional support to help them reach a larger platform, which is necessary. And presently, what we do has a small impetus.

Live Broadcast

As Sony Sports sets to broadcast the event for the second year from December 12 to 17, a certain aura about the league is generating great vibes for the game. For the first time in India, TPL has a unique format and a distinctive colour that would be appealing and novel on television.

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