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Indian Tennis Stars Get Wildcards for Kalaburagi Open W35 Revival

The Kalaburagi Open W35 tournament has awarded main draw wildcards to four Indian players: Jennifer Luikham, Soha Sadiq, Sama Chevika Reddy, and Amodini Naik. This marks the return of international women's professional tennis to Kalaburagi for the first time since 2015. Five additional Indian players have received wildcards for the qualifying rounds, competing for a spot in the main draw. The event, featuring a $30,000 prize purse, is a key platform for domestic talent to gain international exposure and ranking points.

Key Points: Kalaburagi Open W35: Indian Players Awarded Wildcards

  • Four Indians get main draw wildcards
  • Women's tennis returns to Kalaburagi after 10 years
  • Event offers $30k purse & WTA points
  • Qualifying wildcards awarded to five more Indians
2 min read

Four Indians awarded main draw wildcards at Kalaburagi Open W35

Jennifer Luikham, Soha Sadiq among four Indians with main draw wildcards as women's pro tennis returns to Kalaburagi after a decade.

"Tournaments of this level are crucial in providing young athletes with international exposure - Sunil Yajaman, KSLTA"

Bengaluru, February 26

Indian players Jennifer Luikham, Soha Sadiq, Sama Chevika Reddy and Amodini Naik have been handed main draw wildcard entries for the upcoming Kalaburagi Open W35.

Scheduled to be held from March 2-8 with qualifying rounds beginning on March 1, the Kalaburagi Open W35 will stage domestic talent firmly at the centre at the Chandrashekhar Patil Stadium in Kalaburagi, as per a press release from Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association (KSLTA).

The pathway to the main draw remains fiercely contested, with five additional Indians receiving qualifying wildcards.

Potugari Chandana, Omna Yadav Davunaboina, Harshini Nagaraj, Snigdha Kanta and Hridayeshi Pai will compete in the qualifying rounds for a place in the final bracket. The qualifiers offer a high-stakes proving ground, providing exposure against international opposition and the chance to secure valuable ranking points.

The 2026 edition marks a significant moment for the region, as international women's tennis returns to Kalaburagi after a decade, with the last professional women's event hosted here in 2015. The revival of the tournament reinforces Karnataka's growing stature as a consistent host of international tennis competitions and highlights the state's continued commitment to strengthening the women's professional circuit.

"The Kalaburagi Open W35 marks another important milestone for tennis in Karnataka. We are proud to see four talented Indian players earn main draw wildcards. Tournaments of this level are crucial in providing young athletes with international exposure and valuable ranking opportunities at home. KSLTA remains firmly committed to creating more pathways for Indian players to compete, progress and succeed on the global stage," said Sunil Yajaman, Joint Secretary of the KSLTA.

The tournament carries a prize purse of USD 30,000 along with valuable WTA ranking points and is expected to feature players from more than 11 nations, promising a week of high-quality competition in North Karnataka.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Kalaburagi after a decade! Good to see tournaments spreading beyond just Bengaluru and Delhi. North Karnataka deserves this sporting boost. Hope the local crowd comes out in full support.
A
Amodini Naik
Seeing my name here is a dream! Thank you KSLTA for this opportunity. I will give my 100% to make the most of this wildcard. The hard work starts now. 🙏
S
Suresh O
While the wildcards are welcome, I hope the selection process is completely transparent and based on recent performance. We need to ensure the most deserving players get these spots to maintain competitive integrity.
K
Karthik V
Karnataka is truly becoming the tennis hub of India. First the ATP events in Bengaluru, now a WTA event in Kalaburagi. This is how you build a sporting culture. Kudos to KSLTA!
M
Michael C
Interesting to see the development pathway here. The qualifying wildcards for the other five Indians are just as important. That fight to get into the main draw builds serious character. Good luck to all!
N
Nisha Z
So proud to see more women's tournaments! The prize money and ranking points are crucial for these athletes to travel and compete abroad.

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