Somdev Dev Varman ...

[sameerph]

There is still speculation on if Somdev will play at commenwealth games. This is an article from Hindu -

Will Devvarman play in the CWG?

It would not be wrong for him to skip the games if he is not given the support that the elite players were promised for.

[vparam]

There is still speculation on if Somdev will play at commenwealth games. This is an article from Hindu -

Will Devvarman play in the CWG?

It would not be wrong for him to skip the games if he is not given the support that the elite players were promised for.

Need help this with the CWG event. Why would Somdev want to play this event when he would miss the chance to play the China Open and possibly the Masters event in Shanghai? I am not demeaning the CWG, but what will that do to help out his tennis career? Wouldn't he miss be a great opportunity to add a lot of ATP points to his total, besides a lot of money. This is not like Davis Cup when there are no ATP events scheduled during that time.

[Atithee]

Um! maybe because he is an Indian. Otherwise, why do "we" follow this rising player and not many others who are in the same category and maybe even more exciting and even better prospects?

Perhaps a more philosophical question is why have the "Commonwealth" games at all? Whose wealth is it that is considered common? The last I checked, all the "common" wealth is possessed by one nation including the illegal occupation of many national treasures such as the Kohinoor. Why is looting these artifacts any different than poaching the Nazi art or why a Nazi war criminal is tried in courts but the ilk of Gen. Dyer (of the Jalianwala Bagh ill fame) is not is another such question. Of course, I assume the big bad General is dead by now but perhaps many more may still be around. Maybe we can even punish their names if not the person?

[prasen9]

I had really wanted Somdev to play the CWG. But after learning that Hewitt, et al., are not playing, and if nobody ranked above him is playing, then I think it is meaningless to win a medal at the CWG. Somdev should just play the ATP tour and never bother irrespective of the money being offered, unless it is a large amount that helps him get a coach or something. I would want him to play the Asian Games though provided the other top Asian players are playing.

[Prashant]

Agree - if the CWG field is a high quality field, then I see the point of his playing. But if it is a second class field, I'd rather see him play a regular ATP tournament.

I've never been particularly excited about the Commonwealth games - they only seem to be a huge deal in UK and in the case of swimming/aquatics in Australia. I have Aussie friends who are only dimly aware that these games happen.

[prasen9]

The yardstick is: (1) Hewitt and Luczak, Australia, (2) Kevin Anderson, RSA, (3) Andy Murray, Britain, (4) Dustin Brown, Jamaica. If these folks are not coming, then there is no point. Basically, Hewitt and Murray are the real key. Anyway, no professional should be expected to pay large sums out of their pocket (opportunity cost) to represent the country in a meaningless tournament. The government should compensate the Indian sportsmen who stand to lose money.

[vparam]

Um! maybe because he is an Indian. Otherwise, why do "we" follow this rising player and not many others who are in the same category and maybe even more exciting and even better prospects?

Perhaps a more philosophical question is why have the "Commonwealth" games at all? Whose wealth is it that is considered common? The last I checked, all the "common" wealth is possessed by one nation including the illegal occupation of many national treasures such as the Kohinoor. Why is looting these artifacts any different than poaching the Nazi art or why a Nazi war criminal is tried in courts but the ilk of Gen. Dyer (of the Jalianwala Bagh ill fame) is not is another such question. Of course, I assume the big bad General is dead by now but perhaps many more may still be around. Maybe we can even punish their names if not the person?

Easy man, sorry you missed the point of my question. Geez, I had no idea he was an Indian. Glad others did not and provided some good reasons for Somdev to possibly skip the CWG.

[Atithee]

The yardstick is: (1) Hewitt and Luczak, Australia, (2) Kevin Anderson, RSA, (3) Andy Murray, Britain, (4) Dustin Brown, Jamaica. If these folks are not coming, then there is no point. Basically, Hewitt and Murray are the real key. Anyway, no professional should be expected to pay large sums out of their pocket (opportunity cost) to represent the country in a meaningless tournament. The government should compensate the Indian sportsmen who stand to lose money.

Can you propose a few ways that the players should compensate the government (nation) also? No Indian player can claim that government didn't play a hand in getting them to a point where they are making money professionally. Be it the availability of courts, assistance with foreign travel, tax subsidies for the infrastructure, etc.? Does Somdev even pay income tax in India? Or he is showing a net loss on his returns after deducting the expenses of coaches etc.?

Ok, this is said tongue-in-cheek. My main point is that making a sacrifice in the name of the nation also has a place among its citizens. Many a times it comes with monetary loss. But I think Prasen (and many others, I assume) disagree on this. And that's OK.

Oh, and vparam, your sarcasm is duly noted. I know it's hard, but sometimes we do forget that the name of this forum is Sports INDIA. A reminder here and there doesn't hurt.

[vparam]

Oh, and vparam, your sarcasm is duly noted. I know it's hard, but sometimes we do forget that the name of this forum is Sports INDIA. A reminder here and there doesn't hurt.

Well said!

[arjun2761]

I am for Somdev competing for India in the CWealth games as it is being held in India. I would be fine with him skipping it if it was being held in some convict bywater (like say Australia ).

The government should bear his expenses at the same level as it is for other Indian sportsmen and any special travel etc. he needs to get to India. I am not sure that it should be compensating him for lost income -- that is a sacrifice he should be making for India. However, I think that Somdev should leverage his performance in India colors (whether it be the Asiad, CW games, or Davis Cup) for some commercial gain. I can't believe that there are no Indian sponsors for India's only world class male tennis player who is also a near perfect gentleman.

I think Sania did very well in the endorsement area and LP and MB did pretty well too in their prime. There is no reason that Somdev should not get some of the same endorsements and playing with pride for India should help in that effort.

[prasen9]

My main point is that making a sacrifice in the name of the nation also has a place among its citizens. Many a times it comes with monetary loss.

Atithee, if you note in this board, I had called for Somdev to play both the CWG and the Asian Games before. In my latest flip-flop, I said that the CWG tennis tournament is meaningless. Note that I wanted him to play in the Asian Games. If the government wants Somdev to play in the CWG, they should make it worth his while when there is no real glory to the country but the government just wants some feel-good PR by winning some meaningless medals. Wrt the Asian Games and the Davis Cup, players have regularly taken a loss to participate, and I would be among those to ask the player to represent the country.

The issue about whether a player should always represent a country without expecting anything in return is not black and white for me. It is in shades of gray. I will elaborate on my thoughts later when I have more time. Should the government pay for the flight back home? Why don't we even ask the player to play out of his pocket to fly back in the name of sacrifice for the country? Why not even charge a fee for the player to reimburse the expenses to hold the tournament and say that he should pay it for the glory of the country? Wrt money, there is a whole range from + (appearance fee) to - (charge the player for the tournament expenses). There is no magic threshold. I would leave it to the player to decide on a case by case basis. The CWG tournament is useless if Hewitt/Murray don't come and some of the other top players are also missing. I would not advocate that a player should give up pay/points to come. Whether it is in India or not is immaterial to me. There is really less glory in winning on your home-ground than in winning in more adverse conditions.

[dipankardeb]

I can't believe that there are no Indian sponsors for India's only world class male tennis player who is also a near perfect gentleman.

I can't believe that there is no Fan Club of Somdev in Sports India forum given that he is the ONLY world class singles tennis player (Male or Female - I repeat - Male or Female).

[prasen9]

Fan Club of Somdev in Sports India forum

Simple question: what is a fan club in a forum?

[dipankardeb]

Fan Club of Somdev in Sports India forum

Simple question: what is a fan club in a forum?

What do you think it is?

[dipankardeb]

Somdev is now 4 out from the MD of Legg Mason Classic. If he makes it to the MD of the event will be lose the 12 Qual points h earned last year or will he retain those as incentive of making the MD? Does anyone know this for sure?