Times Of India, 03 September, 2008 The ongoing construction at the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association courts has promoted the sponsors of the tennis Nationals for the last 16 years, DCM Shriram Consolidated Limited (DSCL), to defer the 17th DSCL Open National Tennis Championship to 2009.

AITA on its part promised to conduct the event with reduced qualifying spots this year. The dates and venues will be announced soon.

“The DLTA complex is undergoing major re-construction program in preparation for the Commonwealth Games. The extensive ongoing civil work would reduce the number of courts available for the tournament… the movement of people gets restricted and could be unsafe for larger crowds, DSCL said in a press release. “Keeping in this view, and having carefully considered issues of seeking alternate venue for the tournament, reducing categories and qualifying draws, DSCL is constrained to defer tournament to 2009.

Dates for the tournament in 2009 shall be intimated as soon as the same are finalized in consultation with AITA and DLTA,” it added.