ATP doubles championship in India cancelled

The ATP world men's doubles tournament due to be played in Bangalore next month has been cancelled due to security fears, the ATP said on Thursday.

"It's unfortunate that we've had to cancel our year-end doubles championship... however, our primary concern is safety for our fans, players, tournament staffs and media," said Mark Miles, ATP chief executive officer.

The $750,000 prizemoney tournament had been in doubt since last month's attacks in the United States and the organisers had postponed it on Wednesday, worried that players would be reluctant to travel to south Asia.

Bangalore was set to host the tournament from November 7-11, having been given the rights in 2000 for three years.

Indian tennis fans were eager to see their French Open champions Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi, ranked number four in the world, bid for their maiden world title.

With the cancellation of the Bangalore event, the year-end doubles rankings will be based on 2001 results including the Masters event in Paris scheduled from October 29 to November 4.

Indian tennis officials said the ATP had made "a fair decision".

"It was expected. The decision has been taken by the organisers and ATP, not sure whether the best quality players will come or not," Anil Khanna, secretary of the All India Tennis Association (AITA) said.

"For an event of this type, that is important for sponsors too. Taking the totality of the situation into consideration, it is a fair decision."

The first Afro-Asian games, which was to take place in New Delhi next month, was put off indefinitely because of security fears. Worries over player safety have also raised doubts about England's cricket tour of India, due to start next month.