The Tamil Nadu Tennis Association has pleaded with the All India Tennis Association to not penalize the State Associations which conduct int'l events by insisting on royalty money from them, and suggested that "the national body should find an alternate revenue model to raise funds," according to Kamesh Srinivasan of THE HINDU. Responding to the latest communication from the AITA following decisions taken by the exec committee that state associations hosting Challengers held by the national federation would be charged a royalty of Rs.50,000 ($809), and be given added voting rights as per the constitution, the TNTA has stated that "no money ought to be charged as the AITA did not support the events in any way." Interestingly, the AITA has specified that state units conducting Challenger events by dealing with the ATP on their own would still have to pay Rs.100,000 ($1,620), "and will not be eligible for any additional votes." The TNTA claims that the royalty of Rs.100,000 "was unfair as it was in direct communication with the ATP with regard to the conduct of the Challengers without any help from the AITA" (THE HINDU, 11/5).
