In a first for an ATP tournament in India, Aviva Life Insurance in association with Globosport, has launched an innovative initiative where 40 Indian youngsters in the age group of 12-15 years will get an opportunity to be Aviva Ballkids (kids who collect tennis balls struck in the match) at the Kingfisher Airlines Tennis Open, between 25 September – 1 October 2006 in Mumbai.
- Aviva India is the sponsor of the Aviva Ballkids at the Kingfisher Airlines Tennis Open
- First of its kind initiative in India
- Mahesh Bhupathi unveils the Aviva Ballkids T-shirt
- Best ballkid to get a trophy and a yearlong scholarship at The MBTA, Mahesh Bhupathi’s Tennis Academy.
In a first for an ATP tournament in India, Aviva Life Insurance in association with Globosport, has launched an innovative initiative where 40 Indian youngsters in the age group of 12-15 years will get an opportunity to be Aviva Ballkids (kids who collect tennis balls struck in the match) at the Kingfisher Airlines Tennis Open, between 25 September – 1 October 2006 in Mumbai. This will provide a great experience for the children as they get to share the tennis court with the world’s leading players.
Mahesh Bhupathi, India’s leading tennis player unveiled the Aviva Ballkids t-shirt and launched the initiative in Mumbai along with Vivek Khanna, director marketing, Aviva Life Insurance.
The Aviva Ballkids team at the Kingfisher Airlines Tennis Open will be made up of budding tennis players who will be handpicked from reputed Tennis Academies in Mumbai. Children in the age group of 12-15 years will attend the trials, on September 19 and 23, to become a member of the Aviva Ballkids team. The selection process looks at a range of factors including hand-eye coordination, concentration levels, work ethic, reaction times, rolling of the ball and general tennis knowledge.
Vivek Khanna, director marketing, Aviva Life Insurance said: “This initiative is a part of Aviva’s forward thinking agenda in partnering with the local community and providing opportunities to the youngsters. Aviva believes that responsible investment in youth development and training plays an important part in creating a more sustainable future, thereby ensuring 'Kal Par Control'. Aviva has a long association with sports and our association with this event is one more step in promoting youngsters in that direction.”
Mahesh Bhupathi, managing director, Globosport, said: “Aviva and Globosport have a joint aim to harness sports talent that is the best in the country and to render suitable assistance so as to enable them to participate successfully in national and international competitions.”
The Aviva group is already associated with the Australian Open for the Aviva Ballkids programme. This year six Aviva Ballkids from India got an opportunity to be at the Australian Open, one of the four grand slam tennis tournaments. Aviva has been the first corporate ever to sponsor ballkids at the grand slam tennis tournament and has a four year deal from 2005 to 2008 with the Australian Open. This initiative is a part of Aviva’s agenda to promote sports in India and worldwide.
A panel of judges during Kingfisher Airlines Tennis Open will judge the best Ballkid. The winner will get a trophy and a yearlong scholarship at The MBTA, Mahesh Bhupati’s Tennis Academy.
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For further media information please contact:
Pooja Garg Khan
Aviva Life Insurance
Phone: 0124-2804141
E-mail: pooja.khan@avivaindia.com
Sandesh Advani/Shaila Pais
IPAN
Email: sandesh@ipan.com
Notes to editors:
About Aviva India
Aviva Life Insurance is a joint venture between Dabur and Aviva. Dabur holds 74% share and Aviva 26% share in the joint venture. Aviva plc is the UK’s largest insurance group and the world’s oldest insurance group, with a history dating back to 1696. Today, it is the fifth largest insurer worldwide, with 35 million customers and Ł332 billion assets under management. Prior to nationalization, Aviva was the biggest of the foreign insurers operating in the Indian market.
Founded in 1884, Dabur is one of India’s oldest and largest groups of companies with the group’s consolidated annual sales in excess of Rs 1,899 crores. A professionally managed company it is the country’s leading producer of traditional healthcare products.
Aviva pioneered the concept of bancassurance in India, and has leveraged its global expertise in this area successfully in India. Bancassurance has been contributing close to 65% of the total sales of Aviva India. Through its branches and its bancassurance partner locations, Aviva products are available in 392 towns and cities across India.
Aviva’s products have been designed in a manner to provide customers flexibility, transparency and value for money. We have been among the first companies to introduce unit linked products in the market.
Aviva has a unique need based sales approach through the “financial health check” (FHC). The FHC is a free service administered by our FPAs (financial planning advisers) for a need-based analysis of the customer’s long-term savings and insurance needs. Depending on the life stage and earnings of the customer, the FHC assesses and recommends the right insurance product for them.
Aviva is also keen to reach out to the underprivileged that have not had access to insurance so far. Through its association with Basix (a micro financial institution) and other NGOs, it has been able to cover lakhs of lives.