Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Nov 29: Karnataka’s Niki Kaliyanda Poonacha has earned a coveted place in the men’s doubles main draw of the 2026 Australian Open after clinching the Asia-Pacific Wildcard Playoff title in Chengdu, China.

Seeded second, Niki teamed up with Thailand’s Pruchya Isaro and delivered a strong run through the tournament. The duo defeated Tianzhi Qian–Bowen Wu in their opening match, overcame Pak Long Yeung–Chih Chi Huang in the semifinals, and sealed their wildcard with a commanding 6–4, 6–3 victory over Japan’s Seita Kusuhara and Katsuki Nakagawa in the final. This marks Niki’s first entry into a Grand Slam main draw.

To honour the milestone, the Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association (KSLTA) has announced a reward of Rs 1,00,000 for Poonacha.

Maheshwar Rao, chief commissioner of the Greater Bengaluru Authority and KSLTA secretary, praised the achievement, saying:

“We are extremely thrilled with Niki Poonacha’s performance at Chengdu. He continues the legacy of Rohan Bopanna, and we are confident he will make Karnataka and India proud at the 2026 Australian Open. The KSLTA is delighted to reward him for this remarkable accomplishment.”

The association reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Karnataka’s athletes and celebrating achievements that strengthen the state’s tennis landscape.