Davis Cup row can be resolved: Vijay Amritraj

Amritraj, father of Prakash, one of the players, who revolted against skipper Leander Paes, said he was sure the All India Tennis Association (AITA) would come with a solution, which would satisfy both the parties.

“There were occasions that I was 2-5 in the decider and then have won matches. So, I am sure it should be possible.

Nothing is insurmountable,” Amritraj said at a press conference here today during the WTA Bangalore Open event.

Four Davis Cuppers -- Prakash, Rohan Bopanna, Mahesh Bhupati and Karan Rastogi -- had shot a letter to AITA saying they would not play under captain Leander Paes as they had lost confidence in his leadership.

Rastogi, however, backed out of the revolt later and said he was willing to play under any captain.

AITA in its executive committee had decided to retain the same team for the second round Davis Cup tie against Japan and formed a two-man committee to look into the matter.

However, the game’s governing body had said a final decision would be arrived only after Olympics, to be held in August in Beijing, China.

Meanwhile, Amritraj said he has set up a charitable foundation in the United States with a vision to ‘wipe the tears of HIV positive and visually and mentally challenged children and aged people’ in India.

The California-based Vijay Amritraj Foundation, launched in November 2006 by the former Indian Davis Cup Captain along with four other NRI friends, has been funding NGOs in the country involved in providing succour to the needy such as AIDS victims, particularly HIV positive children.

“Charity is the toughest business and what kills me more is a child crying for whatever reasons,” Amritraj said.

“Thanks to the NRIs living in California, the foundation would have disbursed USD 750,000 (approximately Rs.3.5 Crore) by June 2008 by way cash assistance, supply of medicines and other implements for the targeted beneficiaries,” he added.

Talking about his future plans, Amritraj said he proposed to organise two events in California to generate more funds for the foundation whose objective was to help NGOs in need of funds.

“I will also be talking to Richard Williams, father of Venus and Serena and explore possibilities of organising an event in Florida during the U.S. Open in September 2008 to help the cause,” he said.

He said his first hand experience as the United Nations Messenger of Peace for seven years in witnessing the magnitude of sufferings that existed around us motivated him to involve in charity work.