Ayessha Bagla is a National and Asian level tennis player who started playing tennis at the age of five. Her father introduced her to tennis, and gradually her interest developed in this sport. She enjoys playing tennis as it helps her stay healthy, teaches her hard work, enhances her focus, and enables her to learn time management. She has won several tournaments organized by the All India Tennis Association (AITA) and most recently won the bronze medal at the Asian Tennis Federation tournament in Singapore. She is currently studying in the ninth grade at DPS, Udaipur.

The Initiation

Ayessha tells us that though she began playing tennis at the age of five, she started competing in tournaments when she became ten years old. Her father got her started in tennis since he has always been passionate about the game. She began playing at the local club with her father after first watching him play. She subsequently decided to play the sport competitively and began training under a coach.

Gurus & Role Models

Ayessha gets private coaching under the direction of her coach Chetan Sir. He is her primary mentor and has been training her for the last three years. She also appreciates her parents' support, who have always been there for her. Because her father guides her and imparts knowledge, she views him as her mentor as well. Ayessha says that in her personal life, she looks up to her father and respects his perseverance towards his work and his love for sports. However, she also holds the iconic tennis player Serena Williams in high regard because she revolutionized tennis and encouraged a lot of young females to pursue the game.

The Talent

Tennis is a fantastic sport which has a lot of scope in India, according to Ayessha. She enjoys the game, which keeps her in good health and also offers her valuable lessons about other facets of life, such as perseverance, focus, and hard work. By playing tennis, she has learned to set priorities for her time and how to avoid putting things off.

Achievements

In November 2023, she took home the National Series Doubles title. She won another Super Series National Doubles title in Jaipur in 2024. Her most proud achievement was the recent bronze medal in Singles at the Asian Tennis Federation tournament in Singapore.

A Bit More

Ayessha finds inspiration in the statement "Keep going and not give up," believing that perseverance is key when faced with tremendous obstacles in your path. She explains that tennis has several tiers. One might begin with school games, in which juniors compete at the district level tournaments. After doing well in the district tournaments, players advance to the state level and eventually to the national tournaments if they qualify from their district. Players can also get an AITA card from the All India Tennis Association (AITA), through which they can compete in national championships. Different tiers exist in the sport, such as the TS, CS, SS, and NS; the NS (National Series) being the top-tier competition. Ayessha’s message to India’s youth is that tennis is a fantastic sport that teaches us a lot, both on and off the court. You must give tennis a try if you're a sports aficionado.