Odisha’s GDTA To Host National Under-16 AITA Super Series Tennis Tourney

Berhampur: The Ganjam District Tennis Association (GDTA) in Odisha is preparing to host national-level Under-16 AITA Super Series tennis tournament for boys and girls after a gap of nine years in Berhampur from February 3 to 6.

Players from five states including Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, West Bengal and the host Odisha will take part in the tournament.

Top seed tennis player (Boys) Ahan Mishra from Bhubaneswar (Odisha) and Riya Roy (Girls) from West Bengal are also taking part, said Debapriyo Das, AITA tournament referee at a press meet here on Saturday.

“As many players are in the top 100 ranking in the country, we will see quality matches here,” said Das, popularly known as Rishi.

“Three officials would look after the matches. I will have Jatin Batsya from Odisha to assist me,” said Das who is in the profession for the last 24 years.

Participants will play both single and double matches on the clay courts at Union Club tennis arena and District Police Office (DPO) tennis court simultaneously competing for high-ranking points. The matches will be held from morning till evening in both the venues with flood lights.

As many as 50 young ranking talents are expected to participate in this prestigious tournament. Trophies, certificates along with the daily allowance will be presented to the participants, winners and the runner-up.

Huge number of entries are not expected in this tournament as it is being organised after nine years. Such tournaments were delayed for so long as Covid was the main constraint, said the organisers.

“We are also organising a 40-plus,50-plus and 60-plus tournament for veterans on February 8 and 9,” said tournament director Biswaranjan Patnaik. A good number of veterans from Odisha and neighboring states are expected to participate. Even the veterans would be awarded ranking points, he said.

The last national ranking tournament was held in the city from February 29 to March 4, 2016. GDTA has been instrumental in conducting many AITA tournaments including U-16 AITA Super Series for Boys and Girls 2008, U-16 Talent series 2011 and AITA U-16 Championship Series 2012.

“The tennis association has also been imparting tennis coaching to young talents and encouraging them to take part in various national and state-level tournaments. Though tennis is a costly game, we are organising this tournament to inspire young talents and promote tennis,” said Patnaik.