Mahesh Bhupathi to mentor ball kids for Australian Open

Selected kids will be flown to Melbourne for the Australian Open in January, 2019.

Mahesh Bhupathi...“I am thrilled to be part of this exciting initiative.”

Mahesh Bhupathi, the multiple Grand Slam champion, will mentor ball kids over Saturday and Sunday at the R. K. Khanna stadium here. Selected kids will be flown to Melbourne for the Australian Open in January, 2019.

Two officials from Tennis Australia will select 10 Indian kids from a shortlisted bunch of 100 in the age group of 10-12 years.

KIA Motors , the sponsor of Australian Open, has brought the initiative to India this year. There were 1800 kids who registered for the chance to visit Australia, from the four metropolitan cities.

'Exciting initiative'

The selected 100 will be put through various tests and drills to pick the most suitable boys and girls for the Grand Slam of Asia-Pacific.

All the expenses will be borne by KIA Motors . “I am thrilled to be part of this exciting initiative. I am looking forward to interacting with these talented 100 kids,” Mahesh Bhupathi said on the eve of the exercise.