Mumbai: Upcoming tennis player Karman Kaur Thandi said Thursday that winning the $25,000 Hong Kong tournament will be a morale booster going into next month’s Asian Games. She will take part in the women’s singles.
Thandi won her maiden singles title on the ITF Pro circuit after demolishing Jia-Jing Lu’s challenge in straight sets in the final of the event played last month.
“Yes, winning the Hong Kong title has definitely given me a boost. Beating a couple of top 200 players without dropping a set in the whole tournament has been a huge confidence-booster. So for sure a belief that I belong there and I can do it,” the 20-year-old player told this agency.
Karman, however, believes a tough challenge is in the offing at the continental games if all 10 Asian players from the top 100 choose to play.
I have beaten a couple of players in the top 200 in the last few events I have played in. No doubt my self belief has increased
Karman Kaur Thandi
“Yes, I will try my best to get the medal for the country. The competition is going to be of a very high quality even if the top 10 at the Asian level play,” Karman, who is currently ranked No. 216, pointed out.
However, even then the Delhi youngster is quite upbeat about her prospects. “I have been playing good matches these last few weeks. I only got beaten by higher-ranked players. Reached semis in two (tournaments) and won one tournament. Going into the Games, I feel good and confident. In the last six months, I think I have made good progress,” Karman pointed out.
Karman, who is supported by the Virat Kohli Foundation, will now play her first WTA 250K tournament which begins Saturday after which she will start her preparations for the Asian Games.
“When there are people behind you, supporting you and you don’t have to worry at least the finance part…that gives you more freedom to play and train better. And Virat Kohli Foundation has been that support to me,” she signed off.