news papers - Premier Tennis League

Coverage Report
November 14, 15, 16 and 17, 2014
Prepared by:
Print Coverage
Sr No.
Publication
Edition
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
Sakal Times
Pudhari
Aaj Ka Anand
Navabharat
Kesari
The Golden Sparrow
Tarun Bharat
The Times of India
The Times of India
The Times of India
DNA
DNA
Asian Age
Navbharat Times
Mid Day
Navbharat Times
Navbharat Times
Navbharat Times
Navbharat Times
Navbharat Times
Navbharat Times
Sakal
Loksatta
Lokmat
Lokmat
The Hindu
The Hindu
Pudhari
Pudhari
Pudhari
Pudhari
Pudhari
Pudhari
Pudhari
Pudhari
Pudhari
Pudhari
Pudhari
Pudhari
Pune
Pune
Pune
Pune
Pune
Pune
Mumbai
Mumbai
Kolkata
Pune
Mumbai
Jaipur
Mumbai
Delhi
Mumbai
Mumbai
Lucknow
Ghaziabad
Noida
Faridabad
Gurgaon
Mumbai
Pune
Mumbai
Pune
Mumbai
Chennai
Mumbai
Pune
Kolhapur
Sangli
Satara
Solapur
Ahmednagar
Ratnagiri
Sindhudurg
Goa
Belgaum
Nashik
Page
No
16
08
10
02
06
16
16
25
22
22
16
15
15
16
59
13
21
16
16
16
16
11
13
12
12
16
16
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
08
10
Date
14/11/2014
15/11/2014
16/11/2014
16/11/2014
17/11/2014
15/11/2014
15/11/2014
16/11/2014
16/11/2014
16/11/2014
16/11/2014
16/11/2014
16/11/2014
16/11/2014
16/11/2014
16/11/2014
16/11/2014
16/11/2014
16/11/2014
16/11/2014
16/11/2014
16/11/2014
16/11/2014
16/11/2014
16/11/2014
16/11/2014
16/11/2014
16/11/2014
16/11/2014
16/11/2014
16/11/2014
16/11/2014
16/11/2014
16/11/2014
16/11/2014
16/11/2014
16/11/2014
16/11/2014
16/11/2014
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
Tarun Bharat
Tarun Bharat
Tarun Bharat
Punyanagri
Aaj Ka Anand
Pioneer
Rashtriya Sahara
The Indian Express
Navabharat
Navabharat
Navabharat
Belgaum
Goa
Mumbai
Mumbai
Pune
Lucknow
Lucknow
Pune
Pune
Mumbai
Nashik
16
16
16
16
10
10
16
02
09
09
09
16/11/2014
16/11/2014
16/11/2014
16/11/2014
16/11/2014
16/11/2014
16/11/2014
17/11/2014
17/11/2014
17/11/2014
17/11/2014
Sakal Times, Pune, Page no 16
Pudhari, Pune, Page no 08
Aaj Ka Anand, Pune, Page no 10
Navabharat, Pune, Page no 02
Kesari, Pune, Page no 06
The Golden Sparrow, Pune, Page no 16
The Times of India, Mumbai, Page no 25
The Times of India, Kolkatta, Page no 22
The Times of India, Pune, Page no 22
DNA, Mumbai, Page no 16
DNA, Jaipur, Page no 15
Asian Age, Mumbai, Page no 15
Navbharat Times, Delhi, Page no 16
Navbharat Times, Mumbai, Page no 13
Navbharat Times, Lucknow, Page no 21
Navbharat Times, Ghaziabad, Page no 16
Navbharat Times, Noida, Page no 16
Navbharat Times, Faridabad, Page no 16
Navbharat Times, Gurgaon, Page no 16
Sakal, Mumbai, Page no 11
Loksatta, Pune, Page no 13
Lokmat, Mumbai, Page no 12
Lokmat, Mumbai, Page no 12
The Hindu, Mumbai, Page no 15
The Hindu, Chennai, Page no 16
Pudhari, Mumbai, Page no 10
Pudhari, Pune, Page no 10
Pudhari, Kolhapur, Page no 10
Pudhari, Sangli, Page no 10
Pudhari, Satara, Page no 10
Pudhari, Solapur, Page no 10
Pudhari, Ahmednagar, Page no 10
Pudhari, Ratnagiri, Page no 10
Pudhari, Sindhudurg, Page no 10
Pudhari, Goa, Page no 10
Pudhari, Belgaum, Page no 10
Pudhari, Nashik, Page no 10
Tarun Bharat, Belgaum, Page no 16
Tarun Bharat, Goa, Page no 16
Aaj Ka Anand, Pune, Page no 10
Pioneer, Lucknow, Page no 10
Rashtriya Sahara, Lucknow, Page no 16
The Indian Express, Pune, Page no 02
Navabharat, Pune, Page no 09
Navabharat, Mumbai, Page no 09
Navabharat, Nashik, Page no 09
Online Coverage Report
Prepared by:
Sr. No
Portal
Link
1
Sportskeeda.com
http://www.sportskeeda.com/tennis/leander-paes-unveilspremier-tennis-league-trophy
2
Thehindu.com
http://www.thehindu.com/sport/tennis/champions-tennisleague-integrates-indian-and-foreign-players-nicely-saysindian-tennis-star-leander-paes/article6603198.ece
3
Ndtv.com
4
Deccanherald.com
5
6
http://sports.ndtv.com/tennis/news/233097-championstennis-league-integrates-indian-and-foreign-playersnicely-leander-paes
http://www.deccanherald.com/photo.php?id=27259
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/champions-tennis-leagueintegrates-indian-foreign-players-nicely-leanderpaes/512964-5-22.html
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/tennis/topTimesofindia.indiatimes.com
stories/Paes-aims-to-emulate-Navratilova-play-till-heturns-50/articleshow/45160099.cms
Ibnlive.in.com
Sporstkeeda.com
Leander Paes unveils Premier
Tennis League trophy
Press Release
Leander Paes (centre)
Mumbai, 15th November, 2014
The third edition of the Premier Tennis League, India’s biggest national level tennis tournament
that will be played between 27th November and 3rd December at Deccan Gymkhana, Pune has
been launched with pomp and gusto. This League, organized by Amanora Education Foundation
and authorized by Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association (MSLTA) would feature 5
franchise teams competing for top honours with each team boasting of iconic Indian players.
The launch of the league was marked by the unveiling of the coveted PTL trophy. Present at the
occasion was Indian tennis superstar Mr Leander Paes along with Mr Aniruddha Deshpande,
Chairman, Organising Committee, Premier Tennis League (PTL), Mr Nitin Kirtane, Tournament
Director, Mr Hemant Bendrey, Head-Technical Committee, Mr Nandan Bal, Patron, governing
council members of the league and tennis enthusiasts.
The league will feature 6 internationally renowned Indian players who have brought accolades
to our nation. These include Asian Games Silver Medalist and ex-Olympian, Vishnu Vardhan;
Sriram Balaji who has won the ITF Futures singles title and 5 ITF doubles titles this season; and
Sanam Singh, Silver Medalist at the 2014 Asian Games and winner of 2 ATP challenger doubles
titles this season.
The other stars set to grace the court during the league include Saketh Myneni, who won
multiple medals at the Asian Games 2014; Ramkumar Ramanathan, winner of 4 ITF futures
titles and equal number of ITF futures doubles titles this season; and Jeevan N, winner of ITF
Singles title and 5 ITF Futures titles this season.
Being played at the Deccan Gymkhana Court, Pune, the tournament will adopt the ‘All Play All’
format and each match will consist of 13 games.
Addressing the gathering, Mr Leander Paes, said, “The Premier Tennis League which is currently
in its third year promises to gradually shift the way tennis is played and followed in India. It
serve as the perfect platform for young Indian tennis players to leverage upon and display their
talents and skills. With 6 world class Indian players participating in the league, the emerging
talents will get an opportunity to learn and adopt world class practices. Come November 27th,
India will witness some high voltage high action tennis.”
Aniruddha Deshpande, Chairman, Organising Committee PTL, said, “We are delighted to be
taking the Premier Tennis League into its third year. The League has come a long way since it
was launched and has only gone from strength to strength. One of our main aims when we
launched the League was to give young Indian talents a professional platform on which to
showcase their talents and we are glad to see our efforts paying off.”
Thehindu.com
Leander Paes all praise for PTL
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
PTI(Left
to right) Head Technical committee Premier Tennis League Nandan Bal, Leander Paes and Chairman OC
Premier Tennis League Aniruddha Deshpande during the unveiling of the Premier Tennis League trophy in Mumbai
on Saturday.
Davis cup star Leander Paes unveiled the Premier Tennis League (PTL) Trophy at the Bombay
Gymkhana here on Saturday and lauded the promoters of the seven-day league that will be held at
the Deccan Gymkhana, Pune, from November 27 to December 3.
“This league filters through all layers of the tennis fraternity. It has professionals, national players,
juniors, women and local players. The league integrates all players,’’ said Paes praising the initiative
taken by former players Nandan Bal, Nitin Kirtane and Aniruddha Deshpande, chairman of the PTL.
Founded in 2012, the PTL is a five-team franchise league that has a prize money allocation of Rs. 5
lakh for the winner and Rs. 3 lakh for the runner-up. Played in a unique format of each of the five
matches set to 13 games, the PTL will pit Accurate Aces, Baseline Bombers, Dazzling Deuces, Sharp
Smashers and Vibrant Volleyers against each other. At a recent auction held in Pune, Saketh Myneni
was retained by Bombers for Rs. 2.4 lakh.
The Volleyers retained Ramkumar Ramanathan for Rs. 2.4 lakh, Smashers bought Sanam Singh for
Rs. 2.25 lakh while Deuces retained Mohit Mayur for Rs. 1.21 lakh and Ankita Raina for Rs. 1.02 lakh
and bought Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan for Rs. 2.25 lakh.
Aces retained Arun Prakash for Rs. 67,760 and bought Sriram Balaji for Rs. 2.25 lakh. Last year,
Smashers paid a high of Rs. 1.45 lakh to Vishnu Vardhan; this year Aces has bought him for Rs. 1.55
lakh.
The woman players in each side are Eetee Mehta (Aces, Rs. 75,000), Rashika Sunkara (Aces, Rs.
37,000), Prarthana Thombare (Bombers, Rs. 1 lakh), Rashmi Teltumde (Bombers, Rs. 40,000),
Ankita Raina (Deuces, Rs. 1.02 lakh), Shweta Rana (Deuces, Rs. 40,000), Sharmadaa Baluu
(Smashers, Rs. 1 lakh), Sowjanya Bawisetti (Smashers, Rs. 55,000), Natalasha Palha (Volleyers, Rs.
1.10 lakh) and Arantxa Anrady (Volleyers, Rs. 30,000).
Other men players representing respective sides are: Vijay Sundar Prashant (Bombers, Rs. 1.3 lakh),
Kaza Vinayak Sharma (Deuces, Rs. 58,000), Vijayant Malik (Smashers, Rs. 1 lakh), P.C. Vignesh
(Smashers, Rs. 58,000), V.M. Ranjeet (Volleyers, Rs. 1.35 lakh) and Chandril Sood (Volleyers, Rs.
50,000).
Ndtv.com
Champions Tennis League Integrates Indian
and Foreign Players Nicely: Leander Paes
Leander Paes has won 14 Grand Slams and is confident of taking part in the
2016 Olympics.
File photo of Leander Paes.
© PTI
Mumbai: Eager to play in the upcoming Champions Tennis League (CTL), starting on Monday,
veteran Indian star Leander Paes today said that the new league has integrated the
international and national players well.
"I think Vijay (Amritraj) has done a great job in the CTL format. CTL goes from city to city and all
over the country and also integrates Indian players and Western players of very high level,"
Paes told reporters here.
"He has got all the Davis Cup players, the Fed Cup players and got the greats playing. You have
got (Marin) Cilic who won the US Open, Pat Cash, (Martina) Navratilova, (Martina) Hingis,
Tommy Robredo, (Mikhail) Youzhny. I think Vijay's league has integrated nicely the
international and Indian players coming together," the 41-year-old said at the sidelines of the
Premier Tennis League event, which was earlier known as Maharashtra Tennis League. A part of
the Punjab Masters franchise, Paes said he was looking forward to the league.
"I am excited to play for Punjab Masters. I will leave for Delhi tomorrow (where the opening tie
between Delhi and Punjab is scheduled on Nov 17). I start playing on Monday night so really
looking forward to that.
"Vijay is a good man. He has done some great things for tennis over the years. I grew up in his
tennis academy and now to play the league with him and support that league is something I
really look forward to," said Paes.
With the Mahesh Bhupathi-led International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) also in the fray,
asked about the feasibility of these leagues, Paes said, "Whether you have three leagues in one
sport or whether you have 30 leagues in 30 sports, the sustenance of it is important. To sustain
that quality is very important.
"Anybody can start something for the first time but to make sure that the levels stay the same
and then improves, is what is important," he explained. Paes, winner of 14 Grand Slam titles,
said he has had some great friendships over the years and was still looking for his 100th partner
on court.
"I am really looking forward to my 100th partner. I am at 98th at the moment. Wawrinka was
my 98th and I have had such great friends. My tennis has allowed to make such great
friendships through the partnerships I have had, from mentors like Navratilova right to
comrades like Stanislas Wawrinka and Stepanek, Martin Damm.
"Nurturing young talent when they first started like Cara Black or Mahesh (Bhupathi) or
youngsters who have come through, creating history has been something that I have loved
doing and to do it with all these different levels of players has been a great learning for me.
"I have been blessed to have a career that has spanned over so many years. If I don't play
another day of tennis, I have no regret whatsoever because I have had a great career. I don't
know who my 100th partner will be... It will be someone spectacular that is for sure," he said.
Paes has already expressed his desire to play in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Asked if he has thought of playing till the age of 50, Paes said playing alongside Navratilova
made him think so.
"Sure. Martina made me think of that. I played with Navratilova and I won Wimbledon with her
when she was 49 years old, just couple of months short before her 50th birthday. So for me
longevity and excellence and being a student of life is part of my ambitions, but at the same
time as a man you have to take it one day at a time. Right now I am right at the crossroads of
life where I am both personal and professional.
"There are lots of responsibilities that are there and I have to make sure that I fulfil those to the
best that I can and then move forward," he said.
The Premier Tennis League will be played at the Deccan Gymkhana in Pune from November
27 to December 3, and Paes will be playing an exhibition mixed doubles match on December
2 and 3.
Deccan Herald.com
Leander Paes along with others unveil the Premier Tennis League trophy ...Mumbai:
(L-R) Head Technical committee Premier Tennis League Nandan Bal, Indian Tennis player Leander Paes
and Chairman OC Premier Tennis League Aniruddha Deshpande during the unveiling of the Premier
Tennis League trophy in Mumbai on Saturday. PTI Photo
Ibnlive.in.com
Champions Tennis League integrates
Indian, foreign players nicely: Leander
Paes
Eager to play in the upcoming Champions Tennis League (CTL), starting on Monday, veteran
Indian star Leander Paes on Saturday said that the new league has integrated the international
and national players well.
"I think Vijay (Amritraj) has done a great job in the CTL format. CTL goes from city to city and all
over the country and also integrates Indian players and Western players of very high level,"
Paes said.
"He has got all the Davis Cup players, the Fed Cup players and got the greats playing. You have
got (Marin) Cilic who won the US Open, Pat Cash, (Martina) Navratilova, (Martina) Hingis,
Tommy Robredo, (Mikhail) Youzhny. I think Vijay's league has integrated nicely the
international and Indian players coming together," the 41-year-old said at the sidelines of the
Premier Tennis League event, which was earlier known as Maharashtra Tennis League.
Eager to play in the upcoming CTL, veteran Indian star Leander Paes said the new league has integrated the
international and national players well.
As part of the Punjab Masters franchise, Paes said he was looking forward to the league.
"I am excited to play for Punjab Masters. I will leave for Delhi tomorrow (where the opening tie
between Delhi and Punjab is scheduled on Nov 17). I start playing on Monday night so really
looking forward to that.
"Vijay is a good man. He has done some great things for tennis over the years. I grew up in his
tennis academy and now to play the league with him and support that league is something I
really look forward to," said Paes.
With the Mahesh Bhupathi-led International Tennis Premier League (IPTL) also in the fray,
asked about the feasibility of these leagues, Paes said, "Whether you have three leagues in one
sport or whether you have 30 leagues in 30 sports, the sustenance of it is important. To sustain
that quality is very important.
"Anybody can start something for the first time but to make sure that the levels stay the same
and then improves, is what is important," he explained.
Paes, winner of 14 Grand Slam titles, said he has had some great friendships over the years and
was still looking for his 100th partner on court.
"I am really looking forward to my 100th partner. I am at 98th at the moment. Wawrinka was
my 98th and I have had such great friends. My tennis has allowed to make such great
friendships through the partnerships I have had, from mentors like Navratilova right to
comrades like Stanislas Wawrinka and Stepanek, Martin Damm.
"Nurturing young talent when they first started like Cara Black or Mahesh (Bhupathi) or
youngsters who have come through, creating history has been something that I have loved
doing and to do it with all these different levels of players has been a great learning for me.
"I have been blessed to have a career that has spanned over so many years. If I don't play
another day of tennis, I have no regret whatsoever because I have had a great career. I don't
know who my 100th partner will be... It will be someone spectacular that is for sure," he said.
Paes has already expressed his desire to play in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Asked if he has thought of playing till the age of 50, Paes said playing alongside Navratilova
made him think so.
"Sure. Martina made me think of that. I played with Navratilova and I won Wimbledon with her
when she was 49 years old, just couple of months short before her 50th birthday. So for me
longevity and excellence and being a student of life is part of my ambitions, but at the same
time as a man you have to take it one day at a time. Right now I am right at the crossroads of
life where I am both personal and professional.
"There are lots of responsibilities that are there and I have to make sure that I fulfil those to the
best that I can and then move forward," he said.
The Premier Tennis League will be played at the Deccan Gymkhana in Pune from November
27 to December 3, and Paes will be playing an exhibition mixed doubles match on December
2 and 3.
Timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Paes aims to emulate Navratilova, play till he turns 50
Rohit Bhardwaj, TNN | Nov 15, 2014, 07.56PM IST
With Indian players like Saketh Myneni, Sanam Singh and Ramkumar Ramanathan competing in both CTL and PTL, Leander Paes was of
the view more leagues augured well for tennis. (PTI Photo)
MUMBAI: It's tennis' off-season and Indian players are making most of it with the Champions
Tennis League (CTL) promoted by ace commentator Vijay Amritraj serving as a perfect platform
to help them earn quick bucks and get back to full fitness. The CTL will be hosted across six
cities from November 17 to 26.
India's doubles great Leander Paes recently replaced an injured David Ferrer of Spain in the
Punjab franchise of the CTL and is excited to have an opportunity to rub shoulders against the
likes of Mikhail Youzhny of Russia, three-time Davis Cup champion Tommy Robredo, Aussie
legend Pat Cash, five-time Grand Slam winner Martina Hingis and former World No. 1 Venus
Williams.
"I am quite excited and looking forward to playing in the CTL for Punjab Marshals. Vijay
(Amritraj) has done a great job creating a format like this. It has all the Davis Cup players, Fed
Cup players and also the international stars. Integrating the international players such as
Youzhny, Cash and Martina is something great. I was talking to Tommy Robredo about the CTL.
He is already in Delhi and ready to play. Martina is already here, Venus is here too and I am
really happy that some of the greatest players in the world will be coming to our shores in the
next few weeks to be part this celebration of tennis. It is quite exciting," Paes told reporters
during the unveiling of the Premier Tennis League (PTL) trophy on Saturday.
With Indian players like Saketh Myneni, Sanam Singh and Ramkumar Ramanathan competing in
both CTL and PTL, Paes was of the view more leagues augured well for tennis.
"I always feel more the merrier. There was a time when there was no IPL and things changed
after that. As a player its good to have more opportunities to showcase your skills. More events
only help the spread of the sport. But just launching too many leagues doesn't mean good, they
need sustainability," the 14-time Grand Slam winner said.
Paes, who won bronze at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, felt there's still tennis left in him and he
can go on to playing till the age of 50 emulating his mixed doubles partner Martina Navratilova.
"Navratilova has given me a thought that I can play till 50 and even win a tournament. We won
an event together, a few months before her 50th birthday. I have thought of that. Longevity
and excellence is part of my daily ambition. Right now I am at the crossroads of life both
personally and professionally. I am taking it one day at a time. There are many responsibilities. I
am looking at fulfilling them to the best of my abilities and then move forward," the 41-year-old
explained.
Know PTL
Five teams - Accurate Aces, Baseline Bombers, Dazzling Deuces, Sharp Smashers, Vibrant
Volleyers - will vie for top honours in the Premier Tennis League (PTL).
The PTL will be staged in Pune from November 27 to December 3 with internationally
renowned Indians competing.
Top buys: Saketh Myneni (Rs 240,000), Ramkumar Ramanathan (Rs 240,000), Sriram Balaji (Rs
225,000), Sanam Singh (Rs 225,000), Jeevan Neduncheziyan (Rs 225,000).
The tournament will adopt the 'All Play All' format and each match will consist of 13 games.