Tennis has always provided us with great viewing pleasure. Ever since the beginning of open era, there have been many stalwarts of the game who have added a new dimension to it. Players like Laver, Bjorg, McEnroe, Lendl, Sampras, Federer and Nadal have charmed us. We have laughed and wept with them. We have shared their dreams and almost fainted when they have played those stunning shots from the death. A fluid backhand here, a stern forehand there, elegant players, muscular players, and much more have defined tennis. Overall, tennis has lured us into missing our most important works and we have never complained. Most of the times, this has kept the tools of the game at the backstage. They have been just as important. Think of the stars without their tools. How would they shine? The tennis racquets and tennis balls are the prime movers of the game. They are as big stars. Do you know how much specification a tennis racquet holds in itself? There are many things that must be kept in mind before buying the racquets. The professional racquets provide with very supple beam width. Such racquets add another dimension to the sports. It provides with a lot of flexibility as well. Beam width is also associated with control. These professional racquets are ergonomic. Speaking of balance, the racquets are either heavier from the head or lighter from the head or evenly balanced out. In terms of length, they are divided over 5 sizes. They can be of 27 inches, 27.25 inches, 27.50 inches, 27.75 inches and 28 inches. Today, tennis is being avidly followed by the youngsters. This means that there is a lot of junior racquets floating in the markets as well. They have feather grips and come in relatively smaller sizes. Used racquets is in itself an industry and is sold at different offline and online stores at reasonable prices. The strings of racquet are made of intestine of animals. The wooden frame is laminated. In fact, today the laminated wooden frame is being replaced by fiberglass or ceramic or even titanium for more sternness. Even gut is replaced by nylon today. The head of the racquet is slightly inclined to give it greater potency of hitting low shots or corner shots out of the court width. Tennis balls role cant be belittled either. It is 6.7 centimeters in size. It comes in yellow color. The professionally used balls use 15-18 chemical to get the required consistency. Rubber is the chief ingredient. This is why Southeast Asia is the top producer as rubber is found abundantly over there. Felt of a tennis ball is most important feature. It is steamed to give higher wind resistance and relatively low bounce. Tennis bags come in backpacks as well as 12 size bags. Top global companies like Nike, Adidas, Dunlop, Wilson, Head and others are producing high quality bags to let a player feel comfortable with his package. In terms of size, there are 3 racquets, 6 racquets, 8-12 racquets, duffle gears and wheeled tour accessory bags. They are available online over many reputed outlets today.
The year 2008 may be the final year for the ubiquitous Maruti 800. The government's safety norms are coming up in 2008 and the 800 cannot meet the crash test norms. Bidding adieu in 2008 - for similar reasons - will also be the Maruti Omni van and the Esteem sedan. Amongst other cars on Indian roads, the Ambassador cannot meet the crash test norms and will finally say its last hooray in 2008.
Coming back to the M800, the car still sells about 5,000 units a month. That's a significant number, more than the total sales of a number of companies and is significant also because Maruti probably has 50-60% profit on every unit sold, having amortized every machinery, tools and dies, jigs and fixtures for the car.
So, does it make sense for Maruti to continue with the 800?
Apparently not. The whiff that I am getting out of Maruti's cooking pot is that it is the final goodbye for the 800 in 2008. The car will require heavy modifications in order to meet the crash test norms, something that Maruti does not want to work on. The 800's dies are beyond their use by date and they have already been refurbished. A second overhaul will be expensive and Maruti is not very keen to do that. So my bet is on the 800 limping till 2008 and then signing off.
The Esteem will sign off too and will be replaced by the Swift sedan. That's a product worth waiting for as the three-box version will be powered by the Swift's capable powerplants.
Also signing off will be the Omni. This should be replaced by the Versa which may meet the crash-test norms, barely.
And that is why the new Automotive Mission Plan (AMP), as unveiled by the Prime Minister recently (not the 46 page one originally drafted and available for download on the net, but the 55 page one with the last minute changes actually released by the PM) is so important.
The Versa is shorter than 3.8 metres so will benefit from excise duty reductions, bringing the price down. Put in the diesel engine from the Swift and you have a van that will thrash the living daylights out of the Indica taxicab.
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