Pune: EmpowerHER Foundation to host Rs 1 Lakh All India Women’s Tennis Tournament at Deccan Gymkhana

Pune, 16th August 2025: The EmpowerHER Foundation, in association with PMDTA, the Sandeep Kirtane Tennis Academy, Bharat Sports Evolution, MyMentalCoach, Yolkshire and Sancheti Hospital, will host the AITA–MSLTA ₹1 lakh All India Women’s Ranking Tennis Tournament at Deccan Gymkhana from August 18 to 23. Over 100 players from Maharashtra, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Gujarat have confirmed their participation in the singles and doubles categories.

Tournament Director Sandeep Nulkar said the event is driven by a vision to elevate the standard of women’s tennis in India. “Our aim is to provide women players with the kind of support and infrastructure usually reserved for international events. We want every participant to feel valued, cared for and empowered, both on and off the court. This tournament is about raising the bar for Indian tennis,” he said.

The organisers have promised a tournament experience rarely seen at the domestic level. Facilities will include ball boys on every court, live streaming of key matches, an on-call doctor, on-site physiotherapists, hydration kits tailored for Pune’s climate, court-side massage therapists, and professional racquet stringing. Players will also have access to contrast therapy, steam and sauna, and red-light therapy at subsidised rates. Sessions on sports psychology, injury prevention, nutrition, and career planning will be conducted alongside the matches.

In a pioneering initiative, the event will also debut India’s first “Players’ Home Stay Program” in women’s tennis. Outstation players will stay with local Pune families, giving them safe accommodation, nutritious home-cooked meals, daily transport to the venue, and a family-like environment that organisers hope will reduce both expenses and travel-related stress.

“When women athletes are given the right facilities, care and safety, they can reach their highest potential. This tournament is a celebration of that belief,” Nulkar added.

Pravin Zite has been appointed as the AITA Supervisor for the event. Winners will receive trophies and certificates, along with the distinction of competing in what promises to be a landmark tournament for women’s tennis in India.