The first-ever All India Tennis Association (AITA) ranking Wheelchair Tennis tournament -- Tabebuia Open -- will be held at the KSLTA courts here from December 2 to 4. The event, launched by Indian Wheelchair Tennis Tour (IWTT), will have 40 players from across the country competing in both singles and doubles category for the top honours.
Sunil Jain, the Founder-Trustee of Astha, a part of Wheelchair Tennis said, “Tabebuia Open is the beginning of many more tournaments to come. We plan to take this tour across India in coming years.”
The wheelchair players, earlier eligible only for the ITF rankings, will get AITA ranking points as well from this tournament onwards, he said. “We have been working with KSLTA and AITA. For the last six months we have been interacting with them. They are very generous to come out with a tournament where, for the first time in India, wheelchair tennis players will get registered with AITA.”
Excited with the development, wheelchair tennis player Gopinath K said it is a great opportunity. “It’s a great opportunity for all the tennis players. People like us, we do not want any sympathy, we just need opportunity.”
Indian tennis player Rohan Bopanna too extended his support. “I think it’s really fantastic that AITA is having this first wheelchair tennis tournament and to start off here in Bengaluru is really special.” Entry is free for the tournament and the total cash prize money is Rs 2.5 lakh.
