Ayushmaan resists Bushan’s challenge

Deepankar Sharda

Advertisement

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 16

Madhya Pradesh’s Ayushmaan Arjeria came through a seesaw battle to win the Road to Wimbledon (RTW) Junior Masters at the Chandigarh Club, Sector 1, on Saturday.

The 13-year-old from Gwalior overcame a tough challenge from Manipur’s Bushan Haobam. Ayushmaan started as the favourite, especially after his scintillating performance in the semifinals against Haryana’s Aditya Rathi.

However, Bushan saved six set points to take the first set 7-6(4). In the second set, Bushan had two match points but Ayushmaan bounced back to take the set 7-6(3). In the decider, Ayushmaan was leading 5-1 but Bushan showed courage to go level at 5-5. However, Ayushmaan kept his calm and closed the set 7-5 to win his first RTW final.

Ayushmaan, who is coached by his uncle Praful Arjeria, won the RTW in his second attempt. In the previous edition, he had managed to reach the quarterfinals.

After his quarterfinal exit, Ayushmaan worked harder on his game and made it to the Indian junior contingent for the Asia Playoffs of Les Petits As – Lacoste Tennis Tournament. He went on to qualify for the main event. He went on to represent the nation in the Qatar World Juniors Championship. He also featured in the first IIFL Wealth U-14 ATF Tournament. Thereafter, he won the AITA Champions Series U-14 singles title and the U-18 doubles title.

“I am happy to win the Indian leg of the RTW. It’s a great feeling to qualify for the main leg in my second attempt,” said Ayushmaan. “Last year, my performance on national and international circuit was good, which was a confidence boost before 2019. This is my first major title of the year, and I wish to win many more,” he added.

“It was a relief to win the semifinal (against Rathi) as the top two players were to qualify for the main round of RTW. I never expected such tough competition from Bushan, but in the end I am satisfied with the achievement,” he said.

Ayushmaan started playing tennis at the age of eight. He started playing with his cousins under the guidance of his uncle. “My uncle is the person behind my current form. He is my coach and also an important part of my routine. He was the one to suggest tennis for me. I aim to play at the highest level of tennis for the country,” said Ayushmaan.

The RTW was organised by the Chandigarh Lawn Tennis Association (CLTA) and it saw participation of India’s top-16 ranked players. The finalists will play on the Wimbledon courts and at several other venues in the United Kingdom this year.

Justice SS Sodhi (Retd.), former Chief Justice Allahabad High Court, was the chief guest for this event. Former tennis player Jeremy Bates, who is also an All England Lawn Tennis Club coach from Wimbledon, and Jai Singh Gill, president CLTA, also distributed the prizes to the winners.