Hyderabad-based Rishitha Reddy Basireddy emerged as the surprise women's singles champion, while the top-seeded pair of Ayushi Tanwar and Dhanvi Kale claimed the women's doubles title at the Indian Sports Club AITA Men's and Women's Championship held last month in Belagavi, Karnataka.
The national-ranking tournament, organised by the Indian Sports Club under the aegis of the Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association (KSLTA), brought together promising players from across the country for a week from May 2 to 8 of competitive tennis. With a total prize purse of Rs. 2 lakh, equally divided between the men's and women's events, the championship offered valuable ranking points and exposure to emerging talent on the domestic circuit.
The women's singles event produced one of the standout stories of the tournament. Entering the competition without a seed, Basireddy pieced together an impressive run, overcoming several higher-ranked opponents to lift the title.
Her campaign gathered momentum in the quarter-finals, where she defeated fourth seed Sayesha Taneja 6-2, 6-1. She followed it up with an equally commanding 6-1, 6-1 victory over fifth seed Priyanshi Katial in the semi-finals. In the championship match, Basireddy maintained her consistency from the baseline and composure under pressure to overcome third seed Vennela Reddy Gaarugupati, completing a memorable title-winning run.
Top seed Ayushi Tanwar was among the most dominant players during the early stages of the tournament. However, her bid for the singles crown came to an unexpected end when Basi Reddy in the semi-finals produced a superb display to secure a one-sided 6-1, 6-1 victory.
If the singles competition belonged to Basireddy, the doubles event saw Tanwar and Kale combine effectively to justify their top seeding. The duo clinched the women's doubles title after recovering from a set down to defeat second seeds Lavanyaa Shreekirishnan and Charanya Shreekirishnan 4-6, 6-2, 10-6 in an entertaining final.
The champions showed remarkable composure after losing the opening set. They raised their intensity in the second set and then held their nerve in the deciding super tie-break to complete the comeback and secure the championship.
Played on the hard courts of the Indian Sports Club, the championship highlighted the increasing competitiveness of the domestic women's circuit. Several lower-ranked players challenged established names, resulting in a number of closely fought matches and unexpected outcomes.
Beyond the individual achievements, the tournament reinforced the importance of AITA ranking events in providing a pathway for young players aspiring to progress to higher levels of competition. Such tournaments offer crucial match experience and help identify talent capable of making an impact on the national and international stage.
The successful conduct of the championship also strengthened Belagavi's reputation as an emerging destination for national-level sporting events. Tournament officials noted participation from players representing several states, reflecting the growing stature of the event within the Indian tennis calendar.
Conducted under the supervision of tournament director Vishwanath Savdi and referee Surajit Bandyopadhyay, the championship showcased both organisational efficiency and the promising future of Indian tennis, with Basireddy, Tanwar and Kale emerging among the biggest names of the week.
