Bangalore ATP event cancelled over security concerns

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - The Bangalore Open scheduled from Sept. 29 has been cancelled after organisers raised security concerns, the ATP said.

"The ATP board can confirm that it has regrettably accepted a petition from the Bangalore Open to suspend the 2008 event due to the local promoter's security concerns," the ruling body of men's tennis said on its website www.atptennis.com.

"The total event prize money of $400,000 will now be paid into the ATP player pension fund," it added.

The event was moved to the IT hub in May after Mumbai staged the first two editions.

A series of bombs rocked Bangalore on July 25, killing one person and similar blasts in Ahmedabad the next day claimed around 50 lives.

Authorities have blamed the attacks on homegrown Islamist militants.

The cancellation comes after the Champions Trophy in neighbouring Pakistan was postponed from next month to 2009 by the International Cricket Council due to security concerns.