India seek World doubles rescheduling

The ATP will be asked to reschedule its year-ending men's doubles championship in India to avoid the dates clashing with the Afro-Asian Games, Indian tennis officials said on Tuesday.

But the ATP event's chief organiser Gopalakrishna Bhupathi said the chances of India being granted the switch are slim.

"The chances are not high. It's a tour event," Bhupathi said from Bangalore.

The $750,000 World ATP doubles event, featuring the top eight pairs, is to be held in the southern city of Bangalore from November 5 while the Afro-Asian Games are set for November 3-11 in New Delhi.

"There is certainly going to be a clash of dates. Most probably it would have to mean a postponement of the World doubles," All India Tennis Association secretary Anil Khanna told reporters.

He said the AITA would ask for the date change because officials want India's top pair Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi to play in both events.

The first Afro-Asian Games will feature tennis, athletics, boxing, swimming, soccer, shooting, weightlifting and hockey.

"The Afro-Asian Games dates can't be changed. But it's not a major issue (for the ATP). There was postponement (by the ATP) last year also," Khanna said.

Last year's ATP tournament, also held in Bangalore, was delayed for a month to December.

But the ATP tournament organiser said last year's postponement -- due to the Sydney Olympics -- was decided four years in advance and "after great deliberation".

He added he was not hopeful about the postponement as it would upset the end-of-season playing schedule.