Champion contender

"This is by far my biggest victory. To win an international title so soon after starting to play in the women’s category is great,” says Kyra Shroff who transited from the junior to the women’s category on completing 18 years in October last. Shroff and 25-year-old Anja Prislan of Slovenia won the women’s doubles at the $ 10,000 ITF (International Tennis Federation) tournament held at the R. K. Khanna Tennis Stadium in New Delhi from March 28-April 2, 2011. It was the first time the two were playing together. "Partnering her was super, considering that only a month back I had played singles against her at an ITF event in Bombay and lost. She is a great girl and complements my game,” says Shroff for whom 2011 has proved to be an ace thus far!

Barely a week later, Shroff and Prislan picked up another title at the ITF $ 10,000 Futures tournament in Lucknow, resulting in a substantial jump in tour rankings. Shroff had also showcased great on-court skills to lift the women’s singles title at the National Grass Court Tennis Championships held from February 26-March 5 in Calcutta. Reaching the finals in the doubles as well, Kyra and her partner Shivika Burman lost a hard fought battle on a tie-breaker. "Being national champion is a high for anyone. I remember the days when I did not get to be a normal child when I was young; the hard work, strict regimental routines, etc and it all comes flooding back when you finally achieve glory at the nationals,” she asserts.

Kyra Shroff (right) and doubles partner Anja Prislan: moving up in tour rankings

Diagnosed with juvenile diabetes since she was 12 and on insulin four times a day, Shroff personifies positivism and self-confidence! She recalls last year’s match at the nationals: "I missed out winning due to a fall and hurting my shoulder in the quarter finals. I still played on and won it, but could not continue in the semis and so had to concede, so the win this year was kind of sweet for me.” Winning the ITF doubles in Delhi over the strongly built Austrians Stephanie Hirsch and Yvonne Neuwirth was even sweeter! she says. She is disappointed though that she could not prevail over 29-year-old Celine Cattaneo of France in the singles semi-finals. "I must thank my parents (Firdaus and Gulshan), my coach Prahlad Srinath for all they have done to get me to this level. I have a lot more to achieve… It’s really tough on all concerned and if I do not work properly and with the best, it will be almost impossible to achieve what I can or dream to,” she observes. Shroff acknowledges with gratitude the support she has received from the Tatas, the Rustomjee Group and individual trusts. "I cannot of course forget my school (St Anne’s High School at Fort), the Bhupathis (father Krishna and son Mahesh), the Wodehouse Gymkhana, the clubs where I play now, who are all instrumental in getting me where I am,” declares the spirited player.