DDLTA courts mark 90 years of shaping Dharwad tennis

Dharwad: For nearly 90 years, the Rajadhyaksha Pavilion and the Dharwad District Lawn Tennis Association (DDLTA) have played a pivotal role in nurturing tennis culture in Dharwad and North Karnataka. From producing talented players to hosting international stars, the historic courts have remained a vibrant hub for the sport since their inauguration in 1937.

The dream of establishing a tennis facility in Dharwad was realised by visionary Justice Rajadhyaksha. The pavilion and courts were inaugurated on May 15, 1937, by Lord Brabourne, then governor of Bombay. Since then, the venue has become synonymous with tennis in the region.

DDLTA has weathered several challenging phases over the decades, but dedicated sports enthusiasts revived the institution whenever it declined. Veterans such as SR Narsapur, Narsi Joshi, Vaman Jamkhandi, Ramanna Kalaswad, Col SS Kanabargimath, Satish Tagarpur and Dr Krishna Tavargeri played a key role in restoring the courts and sustaining tennis activities.

The courts gained global attention in 1938 when world legends Big Bill Tilden and Henri Cochet, then ranked No. 1 and 2, played exhibition matches in Dharwad. Their visit inspired many youngsters, while coaching by AC Periera of Bombay helped nurture emerging players.

Several noted players, including Anand Amritraj, Ashok Amritraj, Nandan Bal, Shashi Menon, CGK Bhupathi, Rohan Bopanna and Ramkumar Ramanathan, have played at DDLTA courts. Badminton legend Nandu Natekar too first made his mark here as a tennis player.

Infrastructure development received strong backing from deputy commissioners DD Sathe, RB Agawane, Kapil Mohan, Gourav Gupta, MS Srikar, Rajendra Cholan, Deepa Cholan and Gurudatt Hegde, along with IPS officer Gopal Byakod, IAS officer Ibrahim Maigur and senior officials Dr Santoshkumar Biradar, Siddu Hullolli and Mohammed Zuber. Their support helped modernise the facilities and promote the sport.

With support from public representatives and sports patrons, DDLTA developed four synthetic courts, a clay court, a gymnasium and modern amenities, enabling Dharwad to host ATP Challenger and ITF Men’s tournaments. Regular coaching for seniors and juniors has ensured a steady pipeline of players.

The tennis culture remains vibrant, with youngsters such as Amar Dhariyannavar, Sachin Carray and Ratan Kubasad, along with septuagenarians like Anand Yeri, Arvind Yeri and Nagaraj Ambali, actively competing across Karnataka and bringing laurels to Dharwad.

DDLTA secretary Santosh Shetty said an intra-club tournament will be held on May 31 as part of the 90th-year celebrations of the Rajadhyaksha Pavilion courts. Senior players and long-serving members will also be felicitated, he added.