AITA tennis tourney kicks off at sports varsity

The AITA Tennis Tournament, organised jointly by the Sports University of Haryana (SUOH) and the Haryana Tennis Association, commenced on Saturday in a grand and vibrant atmosphere.

Professor Alaknanda Ashok, joint secretary of the Indian Olympic Association was the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony.

Alaknanda Ashok emphasised that such tournaments provided a valuable platform for talented players to gain national-level recognition and showcase their sporting excellence. She extended her best wishes to all participants and encouraged them to play with discipline, dedication and a positive attitude.

Vice-Chancellor of the Sports University, Ashok Kumar, attended the event as the special guest. He noted that emerging players from across the country were competing with determination and high spirits to secure their place. He motivated the athletes to move ahead with hard work, integrity and true sportsmanship.

Top-ranking players from various states across the country are participating in the tournament. According to the organisers, the main draw matches will be played in the coming days, and the winners will be awarded cash prizes and AITA ranking points. The tournament not only promotes a competitive sports culture but also provides promising opportunities for the players to advance to the national level.

The players from across the nation—including Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, and Maharashtra—are participating. Nearly 50 players are competing in the qualifying rounds. The main draw will begin on Monday, with an additional 20 players expected to join based on their rankings, which grant them direct entry into the main draw.

Sanjay Saraswat, Director of Sports, SUOH, expressed gratitude to all teaching and non-teaching staff of the university, school principal and director RK Dhiman, Vinod Sharma, Haryana Tennis Association secretary Chetan Kapoor, as well as the teachers, students, and players for their invaluable contribution in making the event successful.

The university aims to continue organising such tournaments in the future to offer high-level competition for school and university players and provide trained coaches with experience.