Indian Men's Wheelchair Tennis Team Secures Bronze at Asia Qualification Event
Historic Bronze Medal Achievement
The Indian men's wheelchair tennis team achieved a significant milestone by winning their first bronze medal at the BNP Paribas Wheelchair World Team Cup Asia Qualification Event 2026, which took place in Colombo from March 2 to March 6.
Tournament Overview
Organized by the International Tennis Federation (ITF), this tournament serves as the Asian qualifying event for the prestigious BNP Paribas World Team Cup, often referred to as the 'Davis Cup of wheelchair tennis.' The Indian squad featured top players including Shekar Veeraswamy (World No. 210), Basavaraj Kundargi (World No. 185), and Karthik Karunakaran (World No. 351) from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Men's Team's Journey to Bronze
1. India began their tournament with a disappointing 0-3 defeat against the Republic of Korea. Han Sungbong (World No. 46) triumphed over Karunakaran 6-1, 6-1, while Im Ho Won (World No. 61) defeated Kundargi 6-1, 6-2. The doubles match concluded with Lee Jihwan (World No. 52) and Han Sungbong winning 6-3, 6-2.
2. The team faced another setback, losing 0-3 to the host nation, Sri Lanka. Lasantha Ranaweera (World No. 63) beat Veeraswamy 6-2, 6-0, and Suresh Dharmasena (World No. 78) overwhelmed Kundargi 6-0, 6-0. The Sri Lankan duo of Gamini Dissanayaka and Prasanna Wijesirige sealed the tie with a 6-3, 6-3 doubles victory.
3. India rebounded with a commanding 3-0 win over Pakistan. Karunakaran dominated Muhammad Firas (World No. 156) 6-0, 6-0, while Veeraswamy defeated Fida Hussain (World No. 173) 6-0, 6-1. The Indian pair then secured a 6-0, 6-0 victory in doubles.
4. The bronze medal was clinched with a decisive 3-0 win against Chinese Taipei. Karunakaran defeated Tang Chao-Han (World No. 84) 6-1, 6-1, and Veeraswamy overcame Wang Wei-Hsuan (World No. 92) 6-1, 6-2. The doubles match concluded with a 6-1, 6-0 victory for the Indian pair.
Significance of the Achievement
This podium finish highlights India's growing influence in wheelchair tennis across Asia, with players from Karnataka playing a pivotal role in the team's success.
Coach's Remarks
Peter Vijay Kumar, the coach and captain of the Indian wheelchair team, expressed pride in the team's performance, stating, 'This is the first time the Indian men's team has finished third and won the bronze medal. The players demonstrated excellent teamwork and significant improvement. The Asian zone is the most challenging region to qualify for the World Group, making this bronze medal truly commendable.'
Women's Competition Overview
In the women's category, India was represented by Shilpa Kadukothanahalli Puttaraju (World No. 70), Prathima Narayana Rao (World No. 83), and Mubeena Kolakar (World No. 112).
India faced the Republic of Korea first, suffering a 0-3 defeat. Han Inkyung defeated Prathima Narayana Rao 6-0, 6-0, and Park Juyoun beat Shilpa Puttaraju 6-1, 6-1, with the Korean pair completing the sweep in doubles 6-0, 6-0.
Next, India encountered a strong Chinese team led by Li Xiaohui (World No. 2) and Wang Ziying (World No. 4). Wang defeated Prathima Narayana Rao 6-1, 6-0, and Li Xiaohui overcame Shilpa Puttaraju 6-0, 6-1, with the Chinese duo sealing the tie with another 6-0, 6-0 doubles win.
In their final match against Kazakhstan, India came close to victory. Zhanat Umutkulova narrowly defeated Prathima Narayana Rao 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(3), while Shilpa Puttaraju kept India in the game with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Aizhan Butimbayeva. However, the Kazakhstan pair clinched the deciding doubles 6-2, 6-7(1), [10-5] for a 2-1 win.
Looking Ahead
Following the Asia qualifiers, the Indian wheelchair tennis team will continue to compete on the ITF UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour, preparing for the next World Team Cup qualification cycle. This tour includes tournaments across Asia and globally, providing opportunities for ranking points and international competition.