Two talented young tennis players from Karnataka, Puneeth Manohar and Srishti Kiran, are gearing up for their first appearances at the prestigious 14 & Under Junior Championships at Wimbledon. The event is scheduled to be held at the All England Lawn Tennis Club in London from July 9 to July 12. Puneeth and Srishti are the sole representatives from India in the U-14 category, having secured their spots after impressive performances at the ITF Asia 14 & Under Development Championships in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Puneeth, aged 14, will be entering the tournament as the top-ranked player in Asia in the Under-14 division, a title he earned following his victory in the Week 1 singles event in Colombo. Expressing his excitement, Puneeth shared, “Stepping onto the grass courts at Wimbledon is a dream I have had since I first picked up a racquet.” He credited his success to the support from KSLTA, his coaches, and sponsors, emphasizing his readiness to represent India on the global stage.
Accompanying Puneeth is Srishti Kiran, another promising talent from Karnataka, who impressed with her performance as the girls’ singles runner-up during the Asian Championships. Srishti expressed her anticipation, stating, “It feels surreal to think that I will be competing at Wimbledon this week.” She highlighted the intense competition in Colombo that motivated her to excel and emphasized her focus on taking each match as it comes.
Both players have already begun specialized grass-court practice sessions at the All England Club to prepare for the upcoming tournament draw. Sunil Yajaman, Joint Secretary of All India Tennis Association, commended the young athletes for their dedication and transition from local tournaments to the grand stage of Wimbledon. He emphasized the inspirational impact Puneeth and Srishti’s journey will have on aspiring tennis players across Karnataka and India.
