TPL to Fuel Future Stars: 36 Junior Players to Get Scholarships
The Tennis Premier League announces scholarships for 36 junior players and a chance for two U-14 champions to visit the Australian Open 2027.
The Tennis Premier League (TPL) is doubling down on its commitment to grassroots sports by announcing the 2026 Race to Gold (RTG) Masters. This ambitious initiative will see 36 promising junior tennis players from across India receive comprehensive scholarships to accelerate their journey toward professional excellence.
Expanding the Grassroots Reach
The scholarships will be awarded to talented youngsters from six key regions: Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Karnataka, and the North Zone. These awards are designed to provide support that extends far beyond the tennis court. Recipients will receive essential tennis equipment, personalized apparel, and professional guidance.
Perhaps most exciting for the young athletes is the opportunity to interact with and learn from Indian tennis legends such as Rohan Bopanna and Leander Paes, as well as top-tier international players.
The Road to Melbourne: A Dream Opportunity
In a thrilling new addition to the program, TPL has introduced the "Road to the Australian Open" initiative. This creates a high-stakes pathway for the U-14 category:
- Six U-14 boys and six U-14 girls (scholarship winners from the six regions) will compete in a final round-robin tournament in Mumbai on November 29.
- The top-performing boy and girl from this event will win an all-expenses-paid trip to Melbourne for the Australian Open 2027.
- Kia India will cover the travel expenses for both the winning players and one parent each.
Marking the Calendar: RTG Masters Schedule
The Race to Gold Masters will be contested across three weekends in November, featuring categories for U-10, U-12, and U-14 boys and girls. The schedule is as follows:
- TPL North Zone Masters: November 14–15 at DLTA, Delhi.
- TPL Gujarat Masters: November 21–22 at SRT10 Altevol Centre of Excellence, Ahmedabad.
- TPL Maharashtra Masters: November 28–29 at Goregaon Sports Club, Mumbai.
The 36 scholarship winners will be officially felicitated during Tennis Premier League Season 8 in Hyderabad this December. The ceremony will be integrated into the live broadcast on JioHotstar, giving the young athletes national visibility.
Building a Tennis Ecosystem
The Race to Gold program has already left a mark, having supported 80 young players since its inception. Beyond the scholarships, TPL and its teams have conducted eight free tennis camps across eight states, focusing on the holistic development of athletes by educating both children and parents on mental training, fitness, and nutrition.
"Race to Gold is a significant step towards our vision of building a stronger grassroots tennis ecosystem in India. With 36 scholarships and the Road to the Australian Open, we are creating opportunities for young talent to dream bigger," said Kunal Thakkur, Co-founder of the Tennis Premier League.
Mrunal Jain, Co-founder of TPL, emphasized that the focus is to provide aspiring players with the resources and exposure needed to elevate their game. This vision is being further propelled by the support of Kia India, which is partnering with TPL in its first year of association to help young Indian athletes pursue their ambitions on the international stage.