Latest news with #KarnatakaStateLawnTennisAssociation
The Hindu
19-06-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
KSLTA to host historic Billie Jean King Cup playoffs in Bengaluru, showcasing India's rising talent in women's tennis
The Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association (KSLTA) will host the Billie Jean King Cup playoffs at the S.M. Krishna Tennis Stadium here. This will be the first time that the Billie Jean King Cup playoffs will be held on Indian soil. Bengaluru will play host to Group 'G' on 14, 15 and 16 November. India has been grouped alongside Slovenia and the Netherlands. India recently qualified for the playoffs following a good performance in the Asia/Oceania Group I tie held in Pune. The five-member Indian team that featured in the qualifiers included Ankita Raina, Sahaja Yamalapalli, Shrivalli Bhamidipaty, Vaidehi Chaudhari and Prarthana Thombare. 'Hosting the prestigious BJK Cup playoffs at the S.M. Krishna Tennis Stadium will be a historic moment for us at KSLTA. We believe it will elevate India's profile in global women's tennis,' Priyank Kharge, KLSTA Senior Vice President, said. 'There is a lot of promise with young tennis players performing exceptionally well, and a home playoff tie can be a huge fillip in boosting the growth of the sport particularly in the grassroots and also inspire potential talent,' Sunil Yajaman, Hon. Joint Secretary of KSLTA and Tournament Director of the event, said.
Hans India
19-06-2025
- Sport
- Hans India
Bengaluru to host prestigious Billie Jean King Cup play-offs
Bengaluru: In a historic first, Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association (KSLTA) will host Group G ties of the prestigious Billie Jean King Cup Playoffs at the SM Krishna Tennis Stadium in Bengaluru on 14, 15 and 16. This will be the first time ever that the Billie Jean King Cup Playoffs will be held on Indian soil. The Playoffs will feature 21 nations split into seven groups of three teams each. In a unique format, every group tie will be hosted by a nation, and the venues were formally announced following a draw held on Thursday in London. India recently qualified for the Playoffs, only for the second time in its history, following a spectacular performance in the Asia/Oceania Group I tie held in Pune. India qualified along with New Zealand for the playoff, following its 2-1 win over Korea. Both New Zealand and India had four wins each in the six-team competition. The only other time India qualified for the playoffs was in April 2021 when they played in Latvia which saw Jelena Ostapenko lead her team to a 3-1 victory over India. India are in Group G along with Slovenia and the Netherlands and the five-member Indian team will feature Ankita Raina (rank 292), a top singles player from the country along with Sahaja Yamalapalli (rank 301), Shrivalli Bhamidipaty (rank 313), Vaidehi Chaudhari (rank 405) and Prarthana Thombare, the top-ranked Indian doubles player ranked No.136, the KSLTA informed in a release on Thursday. In other groups, Canada, Mexico, and Denmark will feature in Group A, and Group B includes Poland, New Zealand, and Romania while Group C features Slovakia, Switzerland, and Argentina. Group D will have Czechia, Colombia, and Croatia, and Group E will have Australia, Portugal, and Brazil. Germany, Belgium, and Turkiye are in Group F. The KSLTA has been at the forefront of hosting international tennis events and have been a host to Davis Cup ties, ATP World Doubles Championships, WTA Tour Events, ITF Women's $100K, ATP Challengers, ITF World Tennis Tour events, and this would also be a first for KSLTA to host the prestigious Billie Jean King Cup. In their endeavour to provide invaluable exposure to young players and fans across the country, the leadership at KSLTA bid to host the Billie Jean King Cup play-offs when India qualified last month. 'Hosting the prestigious BJK Cup playoffs at the SM Krishna Tennis Stadium will be a historic moment for us at KSLTA and we believe it will elevate India's profile in the global women's tennis. It has always been our endeavour to host top international tennis events in Bengaluru, and we have world-class facilities here which equip us to host an event of this repute,' expressed Priyank Kharge, Senior Vice President of KSLTA and Minister of IT & BT & RDPR, Govt of Karnataka. Sunil Yajaman, Joint Secretary of KSLTA and Tournament Director of the event said, 'We were absolutely thrilled when India qualified for the playoffs and their performance was outstanding. There is a lot of promise with young tennis players performing exceptionally well and a home playoff tie can be a huge fillip in boosting the growth of the sport particularly at the grassroots and also inspire potential talent. "We are very delighted to be chosen as one of the host countries for the playoffs and we look forward to welcoming the players and officials to Bengaluru. I believe this would be a rare opportunity for sports-loving citizens of Bengaluru to witness this prestigious event happening for the first time in India. We also feel this would be a great opportunity for the Indian team to perform at its best as all the players are well-adapted to the conditions here. We thank the International Tennis Federation (ITF) for choosing Bengaluru to host this exciting event,' he added.
New Indian Express
21-05-2025
- Sport
- New Indian Express
‘World No. 1 ranking wasn't something I chased': Rohan Bopanna
While India has long had the reputation of sidelining sports that are not cricket, it has also produced stalwarts like Sania Mirza, Leander Paes, and Mahesh Bhupathi who achieved star-statuses that rival crickets' fame and made the world sit up and pay attention to their talents. A tennis icon, Rohan Bopanna, firmly finds himself standing shoulder-to-shoulder with these greats. Amidst preparing for The Wimbledon Championships set to be held from June 30, Bopanna inaugurated the SM Krishna Stadium recently, and remains hopeful about the future of tennis in Karnataka and beyond. Forty-five-year-old Bopanna was, until recently, an occupant of the World No. 1 position in men's doubles – the oldest player to attain the rank for the first time. As incredible as the feat is, according to Bopanna, this title was not exactly a daily motivator. He reveals, 'Honestly, the World No. 1 ranking wasn't something I chased every single day. My primary focus has always been on consistent improvement, enjoying the process, and contributing to the team on court.' The fact that he was the oldest to do so for the first time, is a testament to his success. 'Reaching the top spot at this stage in my career felt incredibly rewarding – it's the outcome of years of hard work, perseverance, and belief,' he says. While tennis does not exactly see itself at the forefront of Indian sports, the tide is slowly turning. Karnataka has always been at the helm of this tide, setting a precedent for the rest of the country. As Bopanna attests, 'Karnataka has always been a frontrunner when it comes to tennis – thanks to institutions like Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association (KSLTA), strong coaching infrastructure, and a history of producing top players. There's also a growing culture of competitive play and support for junior development. But, we still have work to do for nurturing talent from a young age, especially from diverse backgrounds.' When asked what tournaments like the recently-concluded SM Krishna Memorial Open can do for the development of tennis, Bopanna says, 'Such tournaments are crucial. They offer valuable exposure, rank points, and the chance for players to compete at a high level without leaving the country. For fans, it's a fantastic opportunity to witness top-tier tennis live, which only helps grow the sport locally.' An interesting aspect of Bopanna's career has been his singular passion towards the doubles format, which has yielded him the best results. Bopanna admits to his bent towards something scarcely associated with the individualist image of tennis: team spirit. 'Doubles is such a fast-paced, high-intensity format that demands sharp reflexes, communication, and chemistry with your partner. What I really enjoy is the tactical side – quick decisions at the net, setting up plays, and the thrill of tight moments. Plus, it's a team effort, and I've always enjoyed being part of that dynamic,' he says. Does he have a favourite partner? Bopanna finds it hard to pick just one. 'In men's doubles, I'd say Mahesh Bhupathi – partnering with someone who paved the way for Indian tennis was a great experience and a learning curve. In mixed doubles, it has to be Sania Mirza. We've had a great bond and reaching the final at Australian Open together was incredibly special,' he concludes.
