"Gurgaon Sapphires Make History with Back-to-Back Pro Tennis League Titles"

In a historic feat, Gurgaon Sapphires achieved back-to-back titles in the Pro Tennis League (PTL) by defeating Ichiban Samurai 81-56 in a thrilling final at the RK Khanna Stadium.

Entering the final with momentum from an 81-64 win over Sankara Stag Babolat Yoddhas, Gurgaon Sapphires faced Ichiban Samurai, who secured their spot with a narrow 81-75 victory against Paramount Proec Tigers.

Despite losing the first match, Sapphires demonstrated resilience, with Sahaja Yamalapalli providing Ichiban Samurai an early lead. However, Gurgaon Sapphires bounced back, with Next Gen men’s player Rushil Khosla securing a crucial win, followed by Ruma Gaikaiwari’s dominant victory over Gauri Mangaonkar.

The pairing of Sharmada Balu and Suresh Krishna continued the comeback, winning the women’s pro and Masters mixed doubles match. Rithvik Choudhary’s triumph in the men’s singles match extended the lead, and Balu and Gaikaiwari’s resounding win in the following match solidified the victory.

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With a substantial 20-point lead, Gurgaon Sapphires sealed the deal in the seventh match, culminating in a joyous celebration. Rithvik Choudhary and Maan Kesharwani’s stellar performance secured the team’s historic back-to-back titles.

Individual honors were also awarded, with Ruma Gaikaiwari and Rushil Khosla named ‘Player of the Tournament’ in the NextGen Women’s Pro and NextGen Men’s Pro categories, respectively. Sahaja Yamalapalli and Rithvik Choudhary received ‘Player of the Tournament’ honors in the Women’s Pro and Men’s Pro categories. Additionally, Suresh Krishna was recognized as ‘Player of the Tournament’ in the Masters Pro category.

Expressing satisfaction, league co-owner Aditya Khanna stated, “We are pleased with how the fifth season of Pro Tennis League went and how it has grown. We had some great tennis, but more than that, we were pleased to see families coming in, enjoying the sport, and enjoying the festive atmosphere around. We had worked hard on this season and are pleased to see it have the desired impact.”