Haryana To Hold ITF Women $15K Tennis Tournaments: Suman Kapur

By Deepak Arora

GURUGRAM, Feb 4: The International Tennis Federation (ITF) $15k Tennis Tournament for Women is being held from February 7 at Joygaon Tennis Academy in Jhajjar. It would be followed by another $15K Tennis Tournament for Women from February 14 at the The Tennis Project in Gurugram.

This was announced here by Suman Kapur, the Honorary Secretary of Haryana Tennis Association and Joint Secretary of All India Tennis Association.

Suman Kapur informed that seventy four tennis stars from nine countries, including India, would be participating in the two tournaments in Jhajjar and Gurugram. Out of these, there would be a draw of draw of 48 for Qualifying and 26 players are in Main Draw.

He informed said few of the international players include Anna Ureke (Russia), Punnin Kovapitukted (Thailand), Elena Jamshidi (Denmark), Naoko Eto (Japan), Shria Atturu (USA), Ilaria Sposetti and Elisa Patta (Italy), Alisa Yakimakho (Belarus), and Sydney Stone and Jane Haeusler (Australia). Out of these, the first four are already in the main draw.

Some of the Indian players participating in the 15K tournaments include Zeel Desai (Gurajat), Rashnikaa S (Teelangana) and Nihika Yadav (Maharashtra).

Talking about the Tennis Scenario in India, Pre-Covid, During Covid and Post Covid, All India Tennis Association in general and Haryana Tennis Association in particular have done a tremendous job in support of young and old, boys and girls players of all ages.

The State of Haryana, best known for Hockey and Boxing has done extremely well in Tennis to the surprise of one and all.

For the last five years, this small Northern State has churned out maximum numbers of Tournaments, going up to 350 in numbers and the maximum numbers of seeded players in all age groups.

Starting from the first International Satelite Tournament in 1981 in a small industrial town of Yamuna Nagar, they went on to hold All India Hard Court, All India Juniors, 3 ITF Juniors in a row, going up to holding a Davis Cup Vs South Korea in Chandigarh in 2016.

They had planned two $25000 tournaments for women last year but for the Covid. However, they managed to hold All India Nationals for Men and Women and a $15000 ITF tournament for Men during 2021.

It is Commendable that Suman Kapur and a dozon of Tennis enthusiasts of Haryana have managed to run the game in the way they are doing presently.