Ramkumar Ramanathan and Vijay Sundar Prashanth won the prestigious T.K. Ramanathan award at the Tamil Nadu Tennis Association annual day function held at SDAT-Nungambakkam Stadium here on Friday. Both received Rs. 15,000 each.
While Ramkumar — with good performances on the ATP and ITF circuits — reached a world ranking of 226, Vijay’s good display in the 2015 Aircel Chennai Open — he qualified for the main draw — and two back-to-back ITF titles in Tiruchi and Chennai, improved his rankings to 397.
Vijay, however, couldn’t make it to the function due to prior commitments. Speaking to The Hindu , Ramkumar said his focus will now be more on the Challengers.
“For two and a half months, I was training inBarcelona while taking part in tournaments in Turkey,” said the 20-year-old Ramkumar, who will next play in the French Open qualifying rounds.
Shambhu Kallolikar, Member Secretary, Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu, the chief guest of the day, praised TNTA’s sustained efforts to make the Chennai Open ‘the Mecca of tennis in the world.’
M.A. Alagappan, president, TNTA, expressed his hope that Ramkumar would reach the top 150 by the end of the year. A sum of Rs. 2,31,000 was distributed to the awardees.
Hiten Joshi, CEO TNTA, gave the welcome address and C.B.N. Reddy, secretary, TNTA, proposed the vote of thanks.
The awards: Most Promising youngsters: Manish Sureshkumar, Dhakshineswar Suresh, S.M. Aadithya, G.S. Vasavi, Rishika Ravindran (Rs. 5,000 each).
Justice P.S. Kailsam Memorial award for performance in junior Nationals: Ramya Natarajan (Rs. 10,000), R. Abinikka (Rs. 8,000), R. Sai Avanthika (Rs. 2,000).
Nagamani Mahadevan award: Sai Samhitha (Rs. 10,000).
Veterans award: S. Settu, Rameez Samad, G. Rajesh (Rs. 5,000 each).
Markers award: Naveen (Madras Club, Rs. 6,000) & Issac (Ransa Club, Rs. 4,000).
Official awards: K.R. Ramesh & J. Ramesh (Rs. 4,000 each).
Sanmar-TNTA league (2014-15, winners only):‘A’ zone: MCC ‘A’ (Rs. 40,000), ‘B’: Presidency ‘A’ (Rs. 20,000), ‘C’: Indiranagar SC ‘B’ (Rs. 18,000), ‘D’: Mylapore Club ‘A’ (Rs. 10,000), ‘E’: Anna Nagar ‘K’ Block (Rs. 10,000); ‘F’: Nungambakkam TC ‘Z’ (Rs. 10,000); Veteran’s: plus 45 yrs: Besant Nagar ‘A’ (Rs. 18,000); plus 60: Egmore TC (Rs. 8,000).
UCAL-TNTA women’s inter-club league: Mixed: Besant Nagar ‘A’ (Rs. 10,000); Ladies: Besant Nagar (Rs. 10,000).
