Lucknow: Displaying remarkable grit and determination, Delhi’s Sarthak Sudan emerged as the singles champion at the inaugural Late Dr. KSM Yunus AITA Prize Money Tennis Tournament, overcoming injury to secure a hard-fought victory. In the doubles category, the pair of Atharv Sharma and Anup Mahadev Bajrangi lifted the winner’s trophy.
The tournament, sponsored by the IRM Group of Institutions, was organized under the aegis of the Uttar Pradesh Tennis Association and hosted by SDS Tennis Academy at the La Martiniere Lawn Tennis Facility in La Martiniere College.
At the closing ceremony, former DGP Javeed Ahmad felicitated the winners. Other dignitaries present included Puneet Agarwal, Secretary of the Uttar Pradesh Tennis Association; Khwaja Faizi Yunus, Director of IRM Educational Society; and Abdullah Masood, Director of Shalimar Group. The event was presided over by SDS founding member Pawan Sagar, with noted veteran tennis player Alok Bhatnagar also in attendance.
In the singles final, second seed Sarthak Sudan defeated Haryana’s Sunil Kumar in straight sets, 6-4, 7-5. The match saw intense rallies, with Sudan taking an aggressive approach from the outset while Sunil countered with precise shot selection. The first set was closely contested before Sudan edged ahead.
The victory, however, came with adversity. Sudan suffered a right ankle sprain during the second set, raising concerns about his momentum. Despite the setback, he continued to play with resilience and composure, eventually sealing both the set and the championship.
The doubles final was equally thrilling, going down to a super tie-break. Atharv Sharma and Anup Mahadev Bajrangi defeated the duo of Sunil Kumar and Eklavya Singh 6-7(4), 7-6(4), 10-4. After losing the first set in a tie-break, Atharv and Anup staged a strong comeback, leveling the match before dominating the super tie-break to claim the title.
The tournament showcased high-quality tennis and highlighted emerging talent, making it a successful debut edition in the city.
