Steffi Graf is Kerala’s Ayurveda brand ambassador

Thiruvananthapuram, June 24

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German tennis legend Steffi Graf, who reigned the field of sports for nearly two decades in 80s and 90s, will now promote Kerala's famed Ayurveda system of healthcare.

Kerala cabinet took the decision on Wednesday, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said.

Krala Tourism department has been told to sign an agreement with Graf for the former World No 1 to become the brand ambassador of Kerala’s Ayurveda as part of the department's 'Visit Kerala Scheme', Chandy said.

The tourism department had already held discussions with Graf.   

Graf, who had bagged 22 Grand slam single titles, had retired in 1999. She married former World No. 1 men's tennis player Andre Agassi in October 2001.

Graf was ranked World No 1 by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) for a record 377 total weeks — the longest for any player, male or female, to hold position since WTA and the Association of Tennis Professionals began ranking players.

She won 107 singles titles, which ranks her third on the WTA's all-time list after Martina Navratilova (167 titles) and Chris Evert (157 titles).

She is the only player to win 3 grand slams in a calender year 5 times (1988, 1989, 1993, 1995 and 1996).

Kerala's Ayurveda, an ancient system of healthcare famous for its holistic effect on body and mind, attracts large number of people from the country and abroad every year. — PTI