BANGALORE: Starting on Wednesday, the Padukone Dravid Centre for Sports Excellence will host the sixth edition of the Tabebuia Open Wheelchair Tennis Tournament, a competition on the Indian Wheelchair Tennis Tour (IWTT). The All India Tennis Association (AITA) has approved the four-day competition, which is being hosted under the auspices of the Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association (KSLTA).

The event has attracted a total of 41 entries including eight women from across six states (Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Delhi, Haryana and Orissa). The Tabebuia Open will give the players an excellent opportunity in terms of match practice, ahead of the Nationals to be held in Indore in the last week of March.

The star attraction will be 15-year-old Gujjala Raju, India’s youngest wheelchair tennis player who makes his professional debut. Raju is a product of IWTT’s Junior Program - The First Serve - in collaboration with the RDT and Nadal Foundation at Ananthpur Sports Village.

Asian Games and Commonwealth Games Gold medalist Somdev Devvarman, who was the first Indian to break into the top-100 in world rankings and is on the advisory committee of IWTT, while addressing the press conference via a video call said: “I am honored to be associated with IWTT as an advisor and to have the opportunity to give back to the sport that has given me so much. It is inspiring to see athletes of all abilities come together to compete and showcase their skills, and I am excited to help ensure that they receive the support they need to succeed. Tennis has the power to bring people together and to create positive change in the world, and I am proud to be a part of this meaningful event.”

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