Becker to play the oil fields now

After six grand slam championships, an Olympic gold, 49 career titles and the tag of youngest man to win Wimbledon (at age 17), Boris ‘Boom Boom’ Becker is ready for an altogether different ball game — oil and gas exploration. Anupama Airy reports.

After six grand slam championships, an Olympic gold, 49 career titles and the tag of youngest man to win Wimbledon (at age 17), Boris ‘Boom Boom’ Becker is ready for an altogether different ball game — oil and gas exploration.

The German tennis legend, now 45, has been engaging in discussions with some of the world’s leading oil and gas companies, including India’s Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC).

In an interaction with HT last week, Becker was clearly not comfortable talking about his plans. Even a lot of prodding led to just a promise to reveal the details after a year.

But ONGC chairman and managing director Sudhir Vasudeva confirmed to HT that Becker and his team had met him last week and expressed interest in doing business together.

“He told us he has floated a London-based company, Becker Office Pvt Ltd, through which he wants to cooperate with ONGC in our Nigerian oil and gas exploration blocks,” he said.

"We have asked him to send us the details of the proposal, which we shall evaluate," Vasudeva said, adding that Becker's team is coming again next month for further discussions with ONGC's global subsidiary, ONGC Videsh Ltd.

His latest venture aside, Becker built a successful business during his championship years in the '80s before his retirement in 1999.

He has a property business, a Mercedes-Benz dealership chain and his own line of tennis equipment and apparel. Major players in the energy sector are now waiting to see if he can bring his winning ways to this high-risk game.