01 April,2009 03:28 PM IST | | PTI
Sports Minister M S Gill today lambasted the Australian Tennis Federation for asking the ITF to shift next month's Davis Cup tie against India out of Chennai, saying the ATF should not have rushed to the world body without discussing its security concerns with the Indian government.
"I believe the Australian tennis federation should not have rushed to the world federation (ITF) seeking to change the venue of the Davis Cup tie scheduled in Chennai (from May 8 to 10). Chennai is in fact the safest place in India and a tennis stadium, at best, accommodates 3000-4000 people and we are in a position to make it absolutely safe for them," Gill said.
"There simply was no reason for them to rush to ITF without checking either with us or the Indian High Commission in Australia. I regret they have done so. If countries start worrying like that and make such hasty reactions, there will be a negative impact on interactive sports visits in all the games," he added.
Gill, who was in Australia recently, said he took up the matter with sports officials there. "I'm just back from Australia where I visited the stadia in Sydney and Melbourne and discussed the legacy of those infrastructure and met senior sports officials there," he said.
"Post-Lahore, Australian senior officials raised worry about security in India too. Lahore is not a message for Pakistan or cricket only but for all sports events with large crowd anywhere," Gill said.
Australia had asked for the tie to be shifted out of India after the Lahore terror strike on the Sri Lankan cricket team. But Gill said Australia didn't pull out of the Ashes in England when London bombings took place and should have a similar attitude when it comes to India, which has an "impeccable" security record in conducting sports events.
"London has seen terror strikes in the past but will the Australian cricket team stop visiting England for the Ashes this year. "Post-Lahore, we are working on security, the Delhi Government and the Home Ministry are ensuring foolproof security for 2010 CWG and we are redoubting our effort. India has the will, system, manpower and the infrastructure to arrange total security for 2010 Games," he explained.
"India has an impeccable record and no sports event has been disrupted by such efforts. We recently had a four-nation hockey tournament in Chandigarh and the New Zealand players told me how much they enjoyed their stay here," he said.
Gill said he was sure the Aussies would come to India to play the tie. "I'm assured by the people in Australia that the government feels otherwise and though I'm awaiting the ITF decision, I'm confident the Aussies would come to play the match in Chennai as scheduled," he said.
