8-YR-OLD GIRL WINS TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP

City girl Omi Mehta, all of eight, has made the city proud by winning the Pune open tennis championship 2015 held earlier this month.

Omi, a Vashi resident and a Class 3 student of Sadhu Vaswani International School in Sanpada, won the girls’ singles title in the eight and under category in the tournament held at Deccan Gymkhana in Pune. She defeated Pune girls Asmi Adkar and Jui Kale in the semi-finals and final, respectively.

“Omi started playing tennis at the age of four-and-a-half. We soon realised her talent in the sport and encouraged her,” said her proud father Ajay Mehta.

“When she was seven-and-ahalf years old, we encouraged her to play in tournaments with 10-year-olds. This helped improve her game,” said Ajay.

While Omi started her training in an academy, for the past 18 months she has been coached individually by her father and a few coaches. She practices in her school’s tennis courts.

“We know this is the beginning and she has a long way to go,” said Ajay.

“My mother-in-law and I ensure Omi gets the right diet and is in a good mood always,” said Omi’s doting mother Jina.

Even as Omi’s grandmother said she was proud of her granddaughter’s feat, Omi was quick to attribute her success to the family. “Their support is the key to my success,” said Omi.

“I never give up even if my opponent is ahead in terms of points. I keep trying till the last point and that has worked in my favour,” said Omi, who has won several awards over the years in school and outside. “I want to win even bigger tournaments and championships.”