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Bhupathi turned away from stadium; official apologises

S N Borkar, the commissioner for youth services and sports in Karnataka, today apologised to Mahesh Bhupathi after he learnt that the tennis ace was not allowed to train at the Sree Kanteerava stadium in Bangalore yesterday evening.

Borkar called up Mahesh's father, C G Krishna Bhupathi, and apologised, saying the incident was "unfortunate".

According to reports, Mahesh, who arrived in the city on September 18, had come to the stadium to train even though it was a holiday. However, an official refused him permission and his father had to borrow an "open card" from a coach to utilise the facilities at the stadium. As Mahesh started running on the track, security guards began whistling and chased him and another tennis player.

Borkar said he inquired into the incident immediately after reading the reports in this morning's papers. "Mahesh turned up at the stadium around 1630 - 1700 hrs. The security guard did not allow him as the stadium was closed. The guard on duty also did not identify Mahesh Bhupathi. As yesterday was Sunday, none of the officials were present at the stadium as athletes do not have workouts on Sundays," he said.

Borkar said he is ever willing to receive the tennis ace at the stadium. "It will be a privilege to receive him at the stadium."

Mahesh, according to the reports, was upset and said: "It was a terrible thing to happen. All I wanted to do was run. The thing is, there is just one good track for us to train in the city and they prevent sportsmen from using it. What is the harm if we use it. It is made for us. This has not not happened to me anywhere else in the world."

UNI