Ankita and Rashmika to Lead Local Contingent at WTA50 in Delhi

New Delhi, Jan 12 (NationPress) India's premier singles athletes Ankita Raina and Rashmika Shrivalli Bhamidipaty will take center stage in the local challenge at the ITF W50 tournament, marking the return of Karman Kaur Thandi to the competitive tennis scene after a year away.

Known for her tenacity, a determined Ankita, currently ranked 286 in the world, experienced a mixed bag of results in the 2024 season and is eager to improve. She has had notable performances on the ITF circuit, reaching four semifinals and several quarterfinals.

Rashmika, positioned as India’s number three singles player, is also looking to kick off the season strongly after concluding 2024 with two finals in the ITF circuit towards the year’s end.

The tall Karman Kaur Thandi has received a wild card entry alongside former national champion Riya Bhatiya. Karman missed the entirety of the 2024 season following her marriage to Gurjant Singh, a pivotal member of the Indian national hockey team.

Karman will need to shake off any early rust to advance far in the tournament, while Riya also has a significant opportunity to capitalize on her wild card entry,” stated Rohit Rajpal, president of the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association.

“Karman has demonstrated her potential. We wanted to assist her in rejoining the circuit by granting her a wild card. We recognize her talent, and it’s our responsibility to support our key players. Riya has also shown great promise,” he added.

The singles field is highly competitive, featuring world number 119 Darja Semenistaja as the highest-ranked player in the main draw. Other top contenders include Hungary’s Panna Udvardy (155), Brazil’s Laura Pigossi (160), Briton Lily Yuriko Miyazaki (182), and Italy’s Giorgia Pedone (194), all within the top 200.