KARACHI, Aug 11: The Sindh Tennis Association (STA) has decided to enforce penalty with immediate effect on players for giving walkovers without assigning any valid reason in provincial ranking tournaments.

The decision was part of reforms approved by the STA at a meeting of districts representatives held here recently with senior vice-president, Khwaja Saeed Hai in the chair.

It says 10 suspension points would be deducted if a player gives walkover without assigning valid reason. It added a sum of Rs500 would be fined besides deduction of 10 points on second such no show in one calendar year.

On third such offence the player would be banned for six month or following two Sindh ranking events whichever comes first apart from deduction of points.

However, a player can award two walkovers in a year on medical grounds but a medical certificate must authenticate the claim.

Among other things, it was decided that only registered players can participate in ranking events. A qualifier shall earn two additional points for making it to the main draw.

The tournament referee has been authorised to impose a fine of up to Rs10,000 and or 10 suspension points on each code violation. The STA has also revised points of group A and B ranking tournaments.

It is pertinent to mention that local tennis tournaments have witnessed alarming increase in walkovers in the recent past.