Junior Circuits Abroad for Indian Kids...

[arjun2761]

Ouch, that appears to be a wasted trip. Presumably, he got there with very little time to get acclimated, so that may explain the loss.

[sameerph]

Top 50 player was too good for Vikash.

At Copa Barranquilla (Grade 1) - Colombia (Clay)

[R2] Vikash SINGH (IND,214) l. (5) Juan Martin JALIF (ARG,47) 46 16

Vilash will play in another grade 1 in Equador next week.

[jaydeep]

Good interview of Adil Kalyanpur with Kamesh Srinivasan ... Kamesh has posted on FB.

Future of Indian tennis in the safe hands of Rafael Nadal
NEW DELHI, JAN. 28:

The tennis world may be looking forward to the miraculous repeat of the clash of titans, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, at the Australian Open on Sunday.

What many may not know is that there is an Indian junior in the safe custody of Rafael Nadal at his academy in Spain for the last few months, showing promise to improve the standard of Indian tennis to a different level.
Adil Kalyanpur, at 6 feet 3 inches and weighing 75 kilograms, is easily the best junior on view in the country. He has just won his first ATP point in Spain, and will be training with the Indian Davis Cup team in Pune, for the tie against New Zealand.

Adil, who celebrated his 17th birthday on Republic Day, made his first mark three years ago by winning the doubles title of the UK under-14 championship with Siddhant Banthia, on the hallowed grass courts of Wimbledon. He has gained a lot of tennis knowledge and experience in a short time.
‘’It has been an amazing experience. I have learnt and improved a lot. I hit with Rafa quite often when he is in town and that has helped me understand the kind of tennis that I am working towards. Watching him on TV and practising with him are two very different things’’, said Adil, when contacted at his home.

It is not just Rafael Nadal, but another former world No.1 Carlos Moya and Rafa’s uncle Toni Nadal who have been working on Adil’s game along with the other coaches.
‘’I am very happy with the reactions from them and it is motivating. Everything they say has made a lot of sense and I have utmost trust and respect. They are experts and are guiding me in the right direction. I am honoured to work with such amazing and talented people’’, said Adil, whose parents are renowned doctors, Sunita Maheshwari and Arjun Kalyanpur, based in Bengaluru.

The training is obviously demanding, and Adil takes one’s breathe away by saying that he enjoys the experience.
‘’I have always enjoyed challenges in training as well as matches. The training has been highly demanding but I have adapted well and become much stronger and fitter. The academy has a very unique coaching method which has really suited me’’, he said.

Understandably delighted to get a chance to train with the Davis Cup team, Adil said that it was an ‘’absolute honour’’. ‘’My long term goal is to play for India. So, this is a huge stepping stone. I will try to learn as much as I can’’, he said.
Adil had helped the Indian junior Davis Cup team qualify for the World Group last year and had a fine experience, competing on clay in Europe.

With such highly qualified parents, Adil appreciates the essence of education, but has given tennis top priority with their support.
‘’Education is very important. I have been taught that from a young age. My parents are not worried about how I get my education, as long as I am learning and growing as a human being’’, he said.

The experience of competition in Europe, when he was advised to skip the Australian Open juniors, has already given a taste of what to expect.
‘’Playing Futures in Spain was a great introduction into the men’s circuit. I got my first ATP singles point and that was a huge start to
the year and a massive confidence boost. The competition levels in Europe are very high and you have to work so hard for each point, especially on clay’’, he said.

Roger Federer may have more fans in India, but there is an Indian junior for whom Rafael Nadal is very close to heart. If anything, the future of Indian tennis is in the best hands.

[PKBasu]

Zeel Desai, Mahak Jain (girls) and Siddhant Banthia are playing in the Grade-1 junior event in Thailand this week. All are seeded in singles, and received R1 byes.

[sameerph]

These are results of first 2 rounds.

At PTT - ITF Junior Grade 1, Thailand

[R1] Parikshit SOMANI (IND,185) l. Kai KAWANO (JPN,255) 16 16
[R1] (8) Siddhant BANTHIA (IND,75) bye

[R1] (9) Mahak JAIN (IND,55) bye
[R1] Akanksha A BHAN (IND,143) d. (WC) Lunda KUMHOM (THA,1213) 36 61 62
[R1] (2) Zeel DESAI (IND,36) bye

[R2] (8) Siddhant BANTHIA (IND,75) l. Kody PEARSON (AUS,133) 57 06

[R2] (9) Mahak JAIN (IND,55) d. (Q) Rina SAIGO (JPN,279) 61 67(11) 61
[R2] Akanksha A BHAN (IND,143) d. (7) Yang LEE (TPE,51) 76(1) 26 63
[R2] (2) Zeel DESAI (IND,36) d. (Q) Sakura HOSOGI (JPN,333) 06 61 63

Siddhant got upset in second round but excellent upset win by Akanskha Bhan over the 7th seeded Taiwanese. A bit surprised that both Mahak and Zeel dropped a set against the qualifiers.

Next,

[PQF] (9) Mahak JAIN (IND,55) vs. (8) Simona WALTERT (SUI,45)
[PQF] Akanksha A BHAN (IND,143) vs. (11) Naho SATO (JPN,75)
[PQF] (2) Zeel DESAI (IND,36) vs. Fiona GANZ (SUI,218)

[PKBasu]

Tough match-ups in the final-16 for all (except perhaps Zeel, although junior rankings may not fully reflect an opponent's ability; in this instance, Ganz doesn't have much of a pro record, so the junior ranking seems fair enough, and a match that Zeel should win).
Great run by Akanksha Bhan especially so far. For an Indian ranked 143 to beat the #51 is excellent.

[nitin28]

Only Zeel able to move to Quarters with 6-3, 6-4 victory,
akanksha got thrashed 6-1, 6-0 while mahek lost in 3 set match 3-6, 6-3, 1-6

[PQF] (9) Mahak JAIN (IND,55) l (8) Simona WALTERT (SUI,45) 36 63 16
[PQF] Akanksha A BHAN (IND,143) l (11) Naho SATO (JPN,75) 16 06
[PQF] (2) Zeel DESAI (IND,36) bt Fiona GANZ (SUI,218) 63 64

[sameerph]

At ITF junior Grade 1, Bangkok

[QF] (2) Zeel DESAI (IND,36) vs. Xin Yu WANG (CHN,43)

Tough match against similar ranked Chinese.

[PKBasu]

Good to see Zeel continue to progress through the draw. 16 year old Akanksha seems to have run out of steam after her big win against #51, and 15 year old Mahak lived up to her seeding, losing a close match to the player seeded just ahead of her. So no complaints from me.

[nitin28]

Zeel lost in straight sets 6-2, 6-3

[sameerph]

This week all our top juniors are playing in Malaysia.

At 29th Sarawak Chief Minister's Cup (I) ITF Junior Tennis Championship (Grade 1)

Boys-

[R1] Parikshit SOMANI (IND,185) l. James Kent TROTTER (JPN,137) 46 26
[R1] (8) Siddhant BANTHIA (IND,75) bye

[R2] (8) Siddhant BANTHIA (IND,75) l. Yeongseok JEONG (KOR,129)

Girls -

[R1] (5) Zeel DESAI (IND,29) BYE
[R1] Akanksha A BHAN (IND,137) l. Mai Napatt NIRUNDORN (THA,198) 36 26
[R1] Mihika YADAV (IND,105) d. Uma NAYAR (MAS,353)
[R1] (9) Mahak JAIN (IND,53) bye

[R2] (5) Zeel DESAI (IND,29) d. Sakura HOSOGI (JPN,291)
[R2] Mihika YADAV (IND,105) d. (4) Yuki NAITO (JPN,33)
[R2] (9) Mahak JAIN (IND,53) d. Funa KOZAKI (JPN,253) 64 63

Excellent upset win by Mihika.

Next,

[PQF] Zeel DESAI (IND,29) vs. (12) Draginja VUKOVIC (SRB,69)
[PQF] Mihika YADAV (IND,105) vs. Lexie STEVENS (NED,180)
[PQF] (9) Mahak JAIN (IND,53) vs. Eunhye LEE (KOR,122)

[sameerph]

All 3 won their matches.

At 29th Sarawak Chief Minister's Cup (I) ITF Junior Tennis Championship (Grade 1)

[PQF] Zeel DESAI (IND,29) d. (12) Draginja VUKOVIC (SRB,69) 63 62
[PQF] Mihika YADAV (IND,105) d. Lexie STEVENS (NED,180) 63 62
[PQF] (9) Mahak JAIN (IND,53) d. Eunhye LEE (KOR,122) 76(3) 60

Next,

[QF] (5) Zeel DESAI (IND,29) vs. Sohyun PARK (KOR,97)
[QF] Mihika YADAV (IND,105) vs. (11) Denisa HINDOVA (CZE,58)
[QF] Mahak JAIN (IND,53) vs. (16) Anri NAGATA (JPN,83)

[suresh]

The 3M's Mihika, Mahak and Zeel are doing well.

[nitin28]

Awesome day for india, all 3 reached SF's so 1 Final spot is confirmed.

Mahak JAIN [9] 7-5 6-3 Anri NAGATA [16]
Sohyun PARK 3-6 2-6 Zeel DESAI [5]
Denisa HINDOVA [11] 3-6 0-6 Mihika YADAV


SF:
Mihika YADAV vs Mahak JAIN [9]
Zeel DESAI [5] vs Naho SATO [13]

[PKBasu]

Wonderful to see 3 Indians in a Grade-1 SF outside India. That one semifinal is between a 17 year old and a 15 year old Indian girl is all the more gratifying.

Still trying to figure out how Zeel is among Suresh's 3 M's...