S.M. Krishna: An avid tennis enthusiast who visited Wimbledon frequently

A political figure’s presence in sports governance is generally looked at circumspectly. But S.M. Krishna, to many, was a model administrator.

A political figure’s presence in sports governance is generally looked at circumspectly. But S.M. Krishna, to many, was a model administrator.

A keen tennis enthusiast who never missed an opportunity to play the game when in Bengaluru and visited the Wimbledon frequently, the former External Affairs Minister and Chief Minister of Karnataka is credited with giving the game a huge facelift after he took over as president of the Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association (KSLTA) in 1999.

At the turn of the millennium, the KSLTA stadium in the leafy environs of the pristine Cubbon Park was refurbished, and the old clay courts gave way to immaculately laid hard courts.

“He brought new energy and was a breath of fresh air,” Sunil Yajaman, joint secretary of KSLTA, told The Hindu. “We hosted the ATP World Doubles Championship in 2000 and the whole place was transformed. After that, a lot of WTA events and Davis Cups were held. It was because of his interest and enthusiasm”.

Mr. Krishna was also instrumental in widening the footprint of tennis in Karnataka. Today, there are international tournaments not just in Bengaluru, but in Mysuru, Mandya, Davangere, and Kalaburagi.

“In the first two years of his presidency, seven or eight stadiums were built for hosting international events,” recollected C.S. Sunder Raju, former secretary KSLTA. “In the early 2000s, to see a world-class event, going to a district [outside Bengaluru] was unheard of. But that was his vision.”

“I remember a time when he was in a bus with all his Ministers,” Mr. Raju said. “He came out of the bus and spent nearly 20 minutes with us. He held back 50-odd legislators to discuss what we should do in tennis. That’s how invested he was. We all know what he did for Bengaluru... made it the silicon valley. Tennis was a forgotten area he did much for.”