New Delhi, October 4, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Two-time champion Vaidehee Chaudhari will return to the National Tennis Championship determined to reclaim the title after missing last year’s tournament due to injury.
The main draw of the 31st National Tennis Championship begins at the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association (DLTA) on Monday, with Chaudhari leading the women’s field alongside Shruthi Ahlawat, Sonal Patil and Akanksha Nitture.
Chaudhari won the championship in 2022 and 2024 but was forced to miss the 2025 edition because of injury.
“I will focus on one match at a time. I won in 2022 and 2024, but last year I couldn’t play because I was injured,” Chaudhari said ahead of her opening-round match.
“I am happy to be back again here and I will do my best. And obviously, my eyes are on the winning trophy. So definitely, I will do my best,” she added.
With the main draw yet to be released, Chaudhari said she was concentrating on sharpening her own game rather than worrying about potential opponents.
“I am working on all the parts of my game. Right now, I am just focusing on one match at a time because I don’t know who I am playing against. When the draw is out, we will see who my first opponent is. For now, I will focus on my game,” she said.
Defending champion Manish Sureshkumar will spearhead the men’s draw, which also features Nitin Kumar Sinha, Aditya Balsekar and Udit Kamboj.
The Under-18 boys’ and girls’ competitions will also be held alongside the senior events this week. Delhi’s Praneel Sharma, Karnataka’s Prakaash Sarran, Gujarat’s Om Patel and Haryana’s Harsh Malik are among the players leading the boys’ field.
The girls’ competition features Tamil Nadu’s Savitha Bhubaneshwaran, Maharashtra’s Parthsarthi Mundhe and Swanika Roy, and Karnataka’s Shreeniti Chowdhury.
The Under-16 and Under-14 competitions will follow, with qualifying scheduled for October 10 and 11 and the main draws beginning the following week.
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