Chennai Open to raise funds for CRY

Chennai, Dec 30 (UNI)Already having drawn the interest of tennis lovers responding strongly to sale of tickets, thanks to the strongest field here, the Chennai Open 2007 will live upto its tradition of charity, this time for CRY Foundation.

According to event managers IMG, along with Rolex, the official time keeper of Chennai Open, a '' Rolex Charity Evening'' will be conducted on January 5 to auction memorabilia.

The proceeds will go to Child Relief and You- CRY, a foundation caring for destitute children.

The memorabilia to be auctioned include former tennis icon, John McEnroe's shoes, 'Pistol' Pete Sampras'sT Shirt, Jennifer Capriat's T shirt, James Blake's head band and T Shirt, current women's tennis 'queen', Maria Sharapova's T shirt, hat, an autorgraphed 8x10 picture, Carlos Moya's shoes and Nadia Valdisova's dress and a picture.

The auctioneer for the charity event will be one of India's legendary tennis player Vijay Amritraj, who is also the Indian Brand Ambassador for Rolex.

Chennai Open 2005, it may be recalled, had raised proceeds worth Rs One million in aid of Chief Minister's Relief Fund for tsunami victims, through a charity auction.

Apart from Charity, living upto its life style image, Channai Open this year will have well known models, Vakil, Romi Srivatsava, Donna Catherine, Himani Thapa, Nicole Ladisalu Fereira and Miss Earth Afghanistan 2003, Vida Samdazai, adding glamour and glitz to the tournament through their presence.

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