SAAP's role in Sania Mirza's success

A. Joseph Antony

SAAP's contribution sizeable when seen collectively

PHOTO: RAMESH SHARMA

GOOD BACKING: Sania is fortunate that she has had SAAP's unstinting support.

HYDERABAD: Much before the career managers and big sponsorship deals came along, Sania Mirza's march to glory was well on its way. From 2001 to date, the Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh's (SAAP) financial support alone has come close to a crore — Rs. 99.25 lakhs to be precise.

The latest instalment of SAAP assistance was a Rs. 20 lakh grant, on her return from the U.S. Open, released by its vice-chairman and managing director, G. Kamal Vardhana Rao. "Sania has effected a paradigm shift in sports perspective and I'm confident SAAP's support will take her to greater heights," Rao said.

Cash-strapped

Not many government organisations have backed their wards to such an extent and certainly not those as cash-strapped as SAAP. Even when reeling under huge bills for setting up 2002 National Games and 2003 Afro Asian Games infrastructure, it didn't tighten the purse strings when extending encouragement to the Hyderabad lass. G. Asok Kumar was VC & MD, SAAP in those trying times but in his short stint alone, between 40 to 45 lakhs was handed over.

Money was disbursed under two heads, viz; financial assistance and cash awards. The first category took care of travel, training and participation in international events, while in the latter incentives were given for achievements. Of these, Rs. 65 lakhs was spent on specialised coaching in Italy and USA. "The incentives were timely," recalled former VC & MD, Sumita Dawra.

Broadly corresponding to the period of Sania's ascent, SAAP had funded the conduct of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Open, a Tier IV event, in Hyderabad, that for three editions staged thus far, cost a whopping amount. These gave her considerable international exposure besides landing the aggressive youngster her maiden WTA crown.

Pay and play

Support was not in cash alone. A `pay and play' scheme costing Rs. 100 an hour for using SAAP's tennis facilities was in operation then. She got to use them for however long and whenever she wanted, for free. So also was the grant of a 500 square yard housing site at Bharani layout, an upmarket locality of Hyderabad.

What did/does SAAP expect in return ? "Acknowledgement of its support by displaying SAAP's logo in her attire was one request made to her," recalls Asok Kumar.

"SAAP's financial support has been staggered, barely making a ripple in the media for a day or two. When seen collectively, it is a sizeable contribution to the teen sensation's success," he added.