Indian juniors to compete in UK National finals next year

Four junior Indian tennis players, including two girls, will get a chance to compete in United Kingdom's national championship next year as a part of a new initiative between AITA and Wimbledon Foundation.
According to the initiative, 'The Road to Wimbledon in India', two tournaments will be conducted for the under-14 players, leading to qualfifcation of 16 players, who will then compete in the Masters event where two finalists in each category will be selected for the UK finals.
The two initial tournaments will be conducted in New Delhi (from January 6) and Mumbai (from January 13) on hard courts. The MasterS event will be held in New Delhi from April 7.

The initiative is part of a Wimbledon foundation's progamme, where they aim to expand grasscourt tournaments worldwide and India will be first country to be part of such a programme.
The UK Nationals is part of a programme called 'Road to Wimbledon', where 750 clubs, 44 counties compete leading to National finals, where top 128 players compete.
England's former Davis Cupper and captain Paul Hutchins, who is now associated with All England Club, and AITA Secretary General Bharat Oza announced the partnership.

"The idea is to go to other countries to promote junior tennis. The grass court tournaments are decreasing. India is a big market in Asia and has good potential to develop tennis," Hutchins, who is also the Tournament Director of Road to Wimbledon, said.

Asked why the Indian qualification tournament are being held on hard courts when the players are going to compete in UK on grass courts, Oza said it was due to various factors.
"We wanted to go to established centres first to sart with. In the northern belt we have grass courts but not everywhere, so it's difficult," he said.