Kolkata set to welcome tennis legend Boris Becker this month
The city of Kolkata – the birthplace of the country’s most successful Grand Slam champion Leander Paes – is all set to welcome one of the legends of tennis very soon. Six-time Major winner and former World No. 1 Boris Becker will grace the City of Joy with his presence during a two-day visit as a part of his commitment to the Puma-organised Tata Steel Kolkata 25K run scheduled to be held on December 18.
It has been known that Becker, who is the brand ambassador of the German sports kit manufacturer, will be flying into the city on December 17. Following his arrival, he will be spending time interacting with the participants of the race at the Kshudiram Anushilan Kendra.
The 49-year-old has also confirmed his presence at the race flag-off the next morning, as revealed by the organisers, Procam International.
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“Early morning on the race day, Becker will be there at the flag off on the Red Road. We have got his confirmation,” said Dilip Jayaram, CEO of the Procam International.
The German, who now coaches the 12-time Major winner Novak Djokovic, is himself excited for the impending visit. He hopes the event will be a ‘colourful milieu united for one cause’.
“This will be my first visit to Kolkata. I am really looking forward to it. I hope I will witness a huge congregation on the race day. It will be a colourful milieu united for one cause,” he has said in a message to the organisers.
This is not Becker’s first visit to India. He has participated at the Chennai Open earlier apart from visiting New Delhi and Bangalore in 2013 for the India launch of an automobile giant.
For the past two years, the TSK 25k has seen a huge response from Calcuttans. Now in its third year, the event has roped in former India cricket captain Sourav Ganguly as its face. It has five categories – the 25K (Elite and Amateurs), Open 10K, Ananda Run (6 km), Senior Citizen’s Run (4 km), and Champions with Disability (4 km).
Olympians Lalita Babar and OP Jaisha are expected to give the race a miss after a hectic season. In their absence, the Indian charge will be led by the Bengaluru TCS World 10K women’s winner Swati Gadhave.