In a stellar display of sports excellence, Lavanyaa S Sreekirishnan and Lakshmi Prabha have emerged as gold medal winners at the Chief Minister’s Trophy 2025 – State Level College Tennis Tournament, organised by the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT). The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's Trophy is an ongoing state-level sports event for college students aged under 25, scheduled from October 2 to October 14, 2025, across 13 cities – Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, Tiruchirappalli, Nagapattinam, Dindigul, Tanjavur, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Salem and Chengalpattu.
Representing MOP Vaishnav College for Women in tennis, the dynamic duo showcased their prowess in the Women’s Doubles category, bringing pride not only to their institution but also to the Chennai District, which they represented at the state level.
Lavanyaa and Lakshmi qualified for this prestigious tournament by topping the Chennai Region and went on to dominate the courts against district-level champions from across Tamil Nadu. The competition was fierce, but the Chennai pair remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, winning all their matches, a testament to their exceptional skill and synergy.
The tournament format combined knockout and round-robin stages. The pair began their campaign with confidence, defeating Sathvika AS and Vijaya Amirtha from Tanjore in the Pre-Quarter-Final held on October 3, 2024. They followed this with a commanding performance in the Quarter-Final on October 4, 2025, overpowering Nyshya Sri and Jesica Sandy from Coimbatore.
In the Round Robin stage, the Chennai champions truly shone. On October 4, they defeated Mirthulam and Diya Darshini (Coimbatore) with a decisive score of 6-2, 6-2. The momentum continued into October 5, as they took down Harini Parthiban and Priyadarshini G (Chengalpettu) with a comfortable 6-1, 6-3 win. Later that day, they capped off their gold medal campaign with a hard-fought victory against Mirdula Pazhanivel and Vitula (Chengalpettu), recording a tight 6-4, 7-5 win that showcased their resilience under pressure.
This outstanding achievement highlights the rising talent of Lavanyaa and Lakshmi in collegiate tennis. Their performance not only underscores their individual capabilities but also reflects the quality of sports training and encouragement provided by MOP Vaishnav College.
Lavanyaa and Lakshmi have proven that their triumph is a reminder that sports are not just about medals but about courage, representation, and progress. It reflects the growing space that women in tennis are claiming in Tamil Nadu and across India. As role models, these young champions have set an example — that ambition, when matched with discipline and teamwork, can lead to success.
As Tamil Nadu continues to nurture its sports talent, victories like this will inspire countless more girls to pick up a racket, chase their dreams, and believe that they too can stand tall on the winner’s podium.
