Kingfisher Airlines Open 2007 to Feature Global Tennis Legends

Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Kingfisher Airlines Limited today announced that the second edition of the Kingfisher Airlines Open will take place in Mumbai from September 24 through September 30, 2007. Widely acclaimed as South Asia's most prestigious Association of Tennis Players (ATP) event, top notch players from around the world will take centre stage at the upcoming Kingfisher Airlines Open 2007.

The strong line-up that will battle it out on the hard courts of Mumbai includes power-packed performers like 2007 Wimbledon semi-finalist Richard Gasquet, 2006 Australian Open runner-up Marcos Baghdatis, Wimbledon and US Open Champion Lleyton Hewitt and former world number one and Australian and US Open Champion, Marat Safin.

The US$416,000 Kingfisher Airlines Open is being organized by Globosport, India's leading sports and entertainment management company headed by Indian tennis ace Mahesh Bhupathi. The inaugural edition of the Kingfisher Airlines Open held last year went down as a hugely successful and popular tournament in the annals of Indian tennis history, thanks in no small measure to the combined efforts of Dr. Vijay Mallya, Chairman and CEO of Kingfisher Airlines Limited, and Globosport.

Speaking with media persons at a press briefing held to mark the countdown to the Kingfisher Airlines Open 2007, Dr. Vijay Mallya, Chairman and CEO, Kingfisher Airlines Limited, said, "The Kingfisher Airlines Open 2006 offered Indian tennis aficionados some truly world-class tennis action and went on to be regarded as South Asia's most prestigious tennis tournament. With the successful completion of the first edition of the Kingfisher Airlines Open, Mumbai now occupies a place of pride on the world sporting map. With the line-up of top-seeded players in this year's tournament, tennis lovers are in for yet another season of superlative tennis. We are pleased that Kingfisher Airlines' association with this tournament helps to spread the spirit of tennis among many youngsters thereby paving the way for nurturing future champions from India."

Mahesh Bhupathi, Managing Director, Globosport India, speaking on a video conference from New Haven, Connecticut said, "I am pleased to say that the Kingfisher Airlines Open has grown in stature and this year too we have a galaxy of top players, each capable of winning the title. All the leading players participating this year have beaten the best in the field and this fact holds promise for some scintillating action on the courts. I am delighted that the Kingfisher Airlines Open has lived up to its objective of attracting the finest talent and providing Indian fans a chance to watch great players in action."

About Kingfisher Airlines Open 2007, Mumbai

The Kingfisher Airlines Open 2007, now in its second edition, is South Asia's most prestigious ATP tennis tournament. The prize money for this year's tournament is US$416,000. Like last year, this ATP tennis tournament too will be held at the Cricket Club of India in Mumbai. With the joint efforts of Kingfisher Airlines and Globosport, the Kingfisher Airlines Open 2007 promises to take the sport a notch higher with an array of high-calibre ATP ranking players promising a veritable treat for Indian tennis fans.

About Kingfisher Airlines

Kingfisher Airlines is India's favourite airline and has been voted India's No.1 airline in three independent surveys. It is the only airline to offer a premium first-class service on domestic routes. Besides being the first and only airline to offer in-flight entertainment on every seat in the domestic skies, Kingfisher Airlines is the only one to offer LIVE TV with 16 channels of live and exciting content. Kingfisher Airlines has received over a dozen awards for innovation, customer responsiveness and was voted the "Best New Airline of the Year" within months of its launch.

Kingfisher Airlines is part of The UB Group, which is one of India's largest conglomerates with diverse interests and a global presence. The UB Group is also the largest Indian manufacturer of beverage alcohol (beer & spirits) and the second largest drinks group in the world. Kingfisher Airlines flies to 31 destinations and offers 193 flights daily with a fleet of 30 brand new aircraft. For more information on Kingfisher Airlines, please visit www.flykingfisher.com

About Globosport

Founded and established by Indian tennis ace Mahesh Bhupathi, Globosport is a premier sports and entertainment conglomerate that specializes in sports events, athlete representation, celebrity management and entertainment events. In the short span since its creation, Globosport has spear-headed and professionalized celebrity management in India and emerged as the preferred choice of sporting champions and entertainment icons.

Globosport is characterized by its dedicated team of professionals which ensures that all ancillary obligations of the athletes and celebrities are taken care of without any inconvenience to them. Globosport's commitment to putting India of the International Tennis map has seen India play host to a gamut of International WTA and ATP tennis tournaments in the recent past. Globosport has successfully organised several such tournaments and made a significant contribution to the proliferation of tennis in mainstream Indian sport.

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Source: Kingfisher (Business Wire India)

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