Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Mar 14: Karnataka’s Snigdha Kanta capped an impressive week by winning the girls’ singles title at the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors J60 Gurugram, held from March 9 to 14. She defeated fellow Karnataka player Padmapriya Ramesh Kumar 6–4, 6–4 in the final on Saturday.
Seeded second in the tournament, the 16-year-old displayed composure throughout the final, capitalising on crucial break points in both sets to clinch the title in straight sets. Her campaign throughout the week was marked by consistent performances against a strong international field.
Snigdha stepped up in the later stages of the tournament, defeating fifth seed Deepshika Vinayagamurthy 6–2, 3–6, 6–4 in the semifinals to set up the all-Karnataka showdown.
The victory strengthens Snigdha’s standing on the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors circuit, where she reached a career-best ranking of No. 448 earlier this season. She has also enjoyed success on the domestic circuit, including winning the girls’ singles title at the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors J30 Raipur in March 2025.
Runner-up Padmapriya also impressed during the tournament. The 13-year-old reached the final without dropping a set and produced a standout performance in the semifinals by defeating top seed Prisha Nikhil Shinde 6–4, 6–1.
The Mysuru-based youngster has already established herself as one of India’s promising junior players. She previously held the No. 1 position in the All India Tennis Association (AITA) Girls’ Under-14 rankings and has also entered the Top 100 in the national Under-16 category. Her achievements include multiple titles on the AITA circuit and a podium finish at the ATF Asian 14 & Under Grade A Tournament.
Congratulating both players, Sunil Yajaman, Joint Secretary of the Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association (KSLTA), said the all-Karnataka final at an international junior event reflects the growing depth of tennis talent in the state.
He added that such performances are encouraging for the development of the sport and expressed hope that more young players from Karnataka will continue to make an impact on the international junior circuit.