Titles on the trot

Playing through the searing heat of an Indian summer, not-yet-13 Kyra Shroff had five consecutive wins in high ranking all India tennis tournaments, in places as far apart as Calcutta, Bombay and Ahmedabad. Playing in doubles as well as singles, "Kyra has now been asked to be partnered by India number one (in doubles) and all the top ranked players in the under 14 and under 16 category. The reason (is) that she has an exceptional volley and net game which other girls do not have. As of now, Kyra’s partner is Ashwaria Srivastava who is India number three in singles. They have won three titles on the trot when they played together. In two other championship series, Kyra played with two different partners but still came out winning the title,” says Kyra’s father Firdaus.

Personifying positivity, Kyra has put aside her diabetic condition with regular yoga, exercise, discipline in diet and monitoring of sugar levels. Training from January 2003 at the well-known Nike-Bhupathi Tennis Academy in Bangalore run by Krishna Bhupathi (tennis ace Mahesh’s father ), Kyra was recently in Thailand for a month, honing her on-court skills at "the tennis academy of Asia” outside Bangkok. "Kyra has a strong inner desire to play competitive tennis,” says her mother Gulshan. Her tennis strategy is structured to achieving full potential, the goal being to play and represent India on the women’s circuit internationally. But costs are prohibitive and it is very difficult to find sponsors, says Gulshan, while graciously acknowledging the support of sponsors like Tata Steel and others. Kyra is currently ranked in the top 20 in India in the under 14, mentions Firdaus.

Shroff: success in doubles and singles

In Calcutta, at the Buildwell Group and Dalhousie Institute AITA Super Series from April 9-14, 2005, Shroff and Srivastava beat Danielle Jones and Tanvi Shah, 6-4, 6-4 to clinch the doubles crown in under 14. Teaming up with Shah on May 8 at the Khar Gymkhana All India Championship Series Junior Tennis Tournament 2005 in Bombay the pair had the honor of receiving their doubles trophy from the then Union Minister of Sports Sunil Dutt. A few days later, Shroff and Srivastava crowned their performance with a doubles title in the same city at the Practennis Open AITA Ranking (Super Series) Tennis Championship 2005. At the Wodehouse Gymkhana All India Championship Series Open Junior Tennis Tournament at the end of May at Bombay’s Wodehouse Gymkhana courts, Kyra not only emerged doubles winner once again but was also adjudged best girl player of the tournament, with a victory in the under 14 singles as well. She maintained her winning streak with a girls doubles under 14 title in Ahmedabad at the GTPPA Super Series Tennis Tournament in the early part of June.

"Kyra is very committed and is now realizing that she is capable of winning big matches. Maturity and match temperament is coming in with guidance from her coaches and regular match play,” observes Firdaus.