MUMBAI: Sunfeast and Hungama TV have announced 'The Sunfeast Open Ball boy/Ball Girl Contest 2006'. This contest will give children across the country a chance to be the ball boy/girl in a match played on center court during the Sunfeast Open tournament to kick off in Kolkata from 18 - 24 September 2006.
To participate in the contest kids will have to answer a question that will be aired on Hungama TV till 15 September. It appears that the question will be related to India's top woman's tennis player. Correct responses will give five lucky winners a chance to participate as ball boys/ ball girls at the tournament.
What's more, these five kids will also be featured on Ten Sports and Hungama TV, in addition to receiving special training for this role at the Jaidip Mukerjea Tennis Academy promoted by former India tennis ace and Tournament director for Sunfeast Open, Jaidip Mukerjea.
Contestants can enter the contest by sending their answers either by SMS to 6767888 or email to sunfeastopen@itc.in.
Besides providing the kids with an opportunity to rub shoulders with International Tennis Stars, it is also an attempt to promote the game in India.
ITC Foods Ltd. divisional chief executive Ravi Naware said, "Sunfeast's association with sports was to foster love for the game and groom generation next for keener participation in sporting activities. It is our constant endeavor to connect with our audiences by providing constant interface between the tournament and the audiences in order to form a strong connect and create a sense of ownership for the tournament among viewers."
Further commenting on the association Hungama TV COO Zarina Mehta said, "Hungama TV always believes in empowering, engaging and entertaining kids through various touch points, both on-air and off-air. This unique initiative with Sunfeast is an opportunity to provide a wholesome experience of both our brands by giving our consumers an access to their role models and enabling them to get a step closer to their aspirations.
Touted as South Asia's biggest sporting spectacle, the Sunfeast Open 2006 is Tier III WTA (Women Tennis Association) event with prize money of US$ 170,000. It will be played at Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata from 18 to 24 September 2006. The tournament is being brought to Kolkata by Globosport, the sports management company owned by Mahesh Bhupathi, under the auspices of the Government of West Bengal.
