Indians expect doubles event to be delayed for Afro-Asian Games

Indian sports authorities expect the ATP world doubles tennis event scheduled for Bangalore in November to be postponed because of a clash of dates with the first Afro-Asian Games, they said on Wednesday.

They have also called for the Champions Trophy hockey tournament in Lahore, Pakistan to be delayed a week because it also coincides with the Games.

The Games, featuring athletics, boxing, field hockey, shooting, soccer, swimming, tennis and weightlifting, are scheduled in New Delhi from November 3-11.

Authorities are seeking to postpone the tennis event to ensure the participation of Indian French Open men's doubles champions Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi.

"The issue is almost over. They (ATP tennis officials) are trying to see which dates they can finalise," Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Suresh Kalmadi told a news conference on Wednesday.

Kalmadi said former Indian Davis Cup star Vijay Amritraj, who is a United Nations goodwill ambassador, met many players during the recent French Open.

The issue will be discussed by the ATP players' association which will meet during Wimbledon over the next two weeks.

The organisers also hope that the Champions Trophy would be postponed to bring top sides Pakistan and South Korea to the New Delhi event.

Kalmadi said he was hopeful of a postponement though hockey's world governing body FIH had declined initial requests.

"The Olympic Council of Asia president Sheikh Ahmed has requested (Pakistan's military ruler) General Pervez Musharraf to postpone the Champions Trophy by one week," he said.

India's federal sports minister Uma Bharti said the issue could be raised during Musharraf's peace summit in New Delhi next month with Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.

"If sports comes up as a subject for discussion, then I will include this also," she said.