India achieved a commendable second-place finish at the ITF Asia Under-14 Development Championships Finals in Colombo, Sri Lanka, held from March 29 to April 10, 2026. The tournament, spanning two weeks and featuring 14 nations, saw India secure the runner-up spot behind Chinese Taipei after leading in the first week.
Led by a strong contingent from Karnataka and Punjab, including players like Srishti Kiran, Padmapriya Ramesh Kumar, Puneeth Manohar, and Taanish Nanda, India displayed consistent performances in both singles and doubles events. Puneeth Manohar stood out by winning the boys’ singles title in the first week and finishing as the boys’ doubles runner-up in the second week.
Srishti Kiran, another key player for India, reached the singles finals in both weeks, finishing as the runner-up twice. Additionally, Padmapriya Ramesh Kumar and Taanish Nanda made significant contributions by finishing as runners-up in various doubles events.
The performances of the Karnataka trio, including Srishti Kiran, Padmapriya Ramesh Kumar, and Puneeth Manohar, earned them selection for the Grand Slam Player Development Programme (GSPDP)/ ITF/ ATF Europe U-14 development team.
In their statements, Srishti expressed her joy at qualifying for Wimbledon, emphasizing the honor of representing India, while Puneeth expressed his happiness and pride at the opportunity to compete at the prestigious U14 Wimbledon event.
The ITF Asia U-14 Development Championships, a collaboration between the International Tennis Federation and the Asian Tennis Federation, is considered the top regional competition for this age group, played over two weeks with separate draws and titles.
Sunil Yajaman, Hon. Joint Secretary of the Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association, praised the players for their exceptional performances and podium finishes, highlighting their potential and India’s rising stature in international tennis.
