Selectors warn against missing tennis nationals

India's non-playing Davis Cup captain Ramesh Krishnan and national selection committee chairman Shyam Minotra feel the ''present trend'' of leading players missing the nationals ''can negate their chances of being included in teams for the Asia Cup or Davis Cup''.

The duo, on whom the responsibility of selecting the national team rests, admitted that the ''trend is now changing'' with the nationals becoming a ''showcase for freshers".

''Obviously, now more and more top players are choosing to play overseas at the cost of the nationals, to collect ATP points to boost their rankings. I can say that despite them having proven their merit here, a place into the Indian team would not be a cakewalk and due weightage would be given to the person, even a newcomer, who wins the nationals,'' Minotra said, citing the example of last year's winner Sunil Kumar, who was included in the Davis Cup team.

The nationals, which began in Delhi on Monday, finds many players conspicuous by their absence. These include the illustrious Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi, Davis Cuppers Prahlad Srinath, Syed Fazaluddin, Harsh Mankad, Nirupama Vaidyanathan and Manisha Malhotra. Even defending champion Sunil Kumar made a last-minute entry, deciding against playing in an overseas ITF tournament.

However, Minotra and Ramesh agreed it is not wrong to play in tournaments abroad.

''Well, everybody wants to earn ATP points. Besides, with so many Satellite and other Challenger events in the country itself, they also have immense opportunity to show their game,'' Minotra said.

Ramesh said the trend could also be attributed to the amount of prize-money given in India.

''Well, the less amount of money can also be a factor for the present trend.''

He said if the AITA wanted, it can also make players turn up for such events. ''The AITA is the tennis governing body here. If it takes a serious view of this, players may turn up here. As an example you can see the teams of Sweden and Australia.''

Ajay S Shriram, vice-chairman and managing director of DCM Shriram Consolidated Ltd, the company which has been organising the nationals from 1991, said it does matter for a sponsor if top players play or not.

''Definitely, if we are sponsoring an event, we would like the country's best to play here. Otherwise, it does not become too appealing for a corporate to associate itself,'' Shriram admitted.