NEW DELHI(AP) Indian tennis authorities Friday dismissed Australia's security concerns over playing a Davis Cup series in Chennai in May.
Tennis Australia's chief executive Steve Wood said his country sent a request for a venue change to International Tennis Federation after receiving advice from ``a variety of sources.''
Australia's security concerns are unfounded,'' said Anil Khanna, secretary general of the All India Tennis Association and president of the Asian Tennis Federation.We're expecting the International Tennis Federation to reject Tennis Australia's claims.''
The ITF said it asked its security advisers to report by next week but would not discuss alternate venues until then.
The Asia-Oceania Group 1 series is scheduled for May 8-10. The winner will advance to the playoffs for a spot in Davis Cup's elite World Group.
This week, the Indian Premier League Twenty20 cricket tournament was moved to South Africa after the Home Ministry said it could not guarantee safety because the dates clashed with the country's general elections.
Khanna pointed to the Chennai Open in January, saying not one tennis player pulled out of the ATP tournament because of security concerns.
We're a wonderful country as hosts,'' he said.We'll provide foolproof security and we want the Australian tennis players to come and play in India.''
Concerns about sports security in the region were heightened by this month's attack on the Sri Lanka cricket team in Lahore, Pakistan. Seven test players, an assistant coach and a match official were among those injured. Six policemen and a driver were killed in the ambush.
In November, terror attacks in India's financial capital Mumbai left 164 people dead and forced the cancellation of a cricket tournament involving provincial teams from five countries.