Bengaluru, March 14 (NationPress) In a stunning showcase of talent, Karnataka's Snigdha Kanta emerged victorious, clinching the girls' singles title at the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors J60 Gurugram from March 9 to 14. She triumphed over fellow Karnataka player Padmapriya Ramesh Kumar with a score of 6–4, 6–4 in the championship match held on Saturday.

Seeded second, the 16-year-old exhibited remarkable composure during the final, successfully converting pivotal break points in both sets which led her to a straight-sets victory, marking one of the most noteworthy achievements in her junior tennis career. Her path to the championship was marked by consistent performances throughout the week, as she faced a challenging international lineup. After a strong start, Snigdha intensified her gameplay in the semifinals, overcoming fifth seed Deepshika Vinayagamurthy with a score of 6–2, 3–6, 6–4, paving the way for an all-Karnataka final.

This victory enhances Snigdha's standing in the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors, where she reached her career-high ranking of No. 448 earlier this season. She has also showcased her prowess on the domestic front, winning the girls’ singles title at the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors J30 Raipur in March 2025 and achieving numerous top finishes in national competitions.

Runner-up Padmapriya Ramesh Kumar also had an impressive journey in Gurugram. The 13-year-old advanced to the final without dropping a set, notably defeating top seed Prisha Nikhil Shinde 6–4, 6–1 in the semifinals. Despite falling short of the title, Padmapriya's performance showcased her rapid advancement in the junior circuit with another commendable international display.

Padmapriya has established herself as one of India’s promising young talents, having previously held the No. 1 spot in the AITA Girls’ Under-14 rankings for several weeks and making her way into the Top 100 of the national Under-16 rankings. The Mysuru-based athlete has secured multiple titles on the AITA national circuit and achieved a podium finish at the ATF Asian 14 & Under Grade A tournament, emphasizing her growing potential on the global stage.

In response to their accomplishments, Sunil Yajaman, Joint Secretary of the Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association (KSLTA), remarked, “Congratulations to Snigdha for a well-earned title and to Padmapriya for an outstanding journey to the final. An all-Karnataka final at an international ITF junior event signifies a positive trend for the growth of tennis in our state. Performances such as these underline the wealth of talent emerging from Karnataka. We anticipate this momentum to carry on as more young athletes make their presence felt on the international circuit.”