Former Davis Cup player Srinath Prahlad to mentor young players across U-10, U-12, U-14 and U-18 categories ahead of Kia TPL Season 8
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Jaipur. Rajasthan Rangers, the Rajasthan-based franchise competing in Kia Tennis Premier League (TPL) Season 8, is hosting a two-day grassroots tennis camp at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur, on October 17 and 18, with over 150 young players set to participate in the initiative.
The camp is part of the broader TPL grassroots development programme and aims to encourage young players to take up tennis, gain competitive exposure and learn about different aspects of professional sports.
The initiative features young tennis players across four age categories — Under-10, Under-12, Under-14 and Under-18. Former Indian Davis Cup player and Rajasthan Rangers Mentor Srinath Prahlad will mentor the young players from Rajasthan during the camp, sharing his experience and providing guidance on tennis techniques, match preparation and the importance of discipline and consistent training.
The camp also focuses on introducing participants to important aspects of athlete development, including fitness, sports nutrition, physiotherapy and mental preparation.
Owned by Rajasthan-based RAPL Group, Rajasthan Rangers is led by its Managing Director, entrepreneur and Bollywood actor Salim Diwan, who originally hails from Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan. The franchise marks the group’s entry into professional sports and reflects Diwan’s longstanding personal connection with tennis and his home state.
Speaking about the initiative, Salim Diwan, Team Owner, Rajasthan Rangers, said, “We believe the future of Indian tennis will not be shaped only on centre courts or in major televised tournaments. It will also be built on courts like these, where children have the talent, the determination and, most importantly, the opportunity to grow. Coming from Rajasthan myself, it means a great deal to bring this initiative to Jaipur and encourage more children from our state to take up tennis.”
Diwan, who has appeared in Hindi films including Bollywood Diaries and Aliya Basu Gayab Hai, believes that building interest in tennis from an early age is as important as developing competitive players.
“Our ambition goes beyond developing good tennis players. We want to make tennis more accessible, exciting and enjoyable for children. It would be wonderful to see a time when picking up a tennis racquet feels as natural to a child as picking up a cricket bat. And hopefully, we can get a few more children to fall in love with tennis before they fall in love with their mobile phones,”Diwan added.
The Jaipur grassroots initiative also reflects Rajasthan Rangers’ focus on building a connection with the local sporting community as the team prepares for its debut in Kia TPL Season 8.
Jonu Rana, Vice Chairman, Rajasthan Rangers, said, “Grassroots development is about creating an environment where children enjoy the game, gain confidence and feel encouraged to keep playing. Through this camp, we hope to make tennis more approachable and aspirational for young players and their families. If we can inspire more children to take up the sport and continue playing beyond these two days, that would be a meaningful beginning for us.”
Rana, Founder and CEO of AI and data analytics company PiSquare, brings over three decades of experience in business strategy, technology and organisational development to the franchise. He is also associated with film production company DramaTIQ (Rehab Films).
Rajasthan Rangers will compete in Kia TPL Season 8, scheduled to take place from December 8 to 13, 2026, at the LB Tennis Stadium in Hyderabad. The franchise has Indian tennis icon and six-time Grand Slam champion Sania Mirza as its Brand Ambassador and Australian Grand Slam winner Rinky Hijikata as its International Marquee Player.
The team’s lineup also includes Indian doubles specialist N. Sriram Balaji and Russia’s Anastasia Zolotareva, who joined the franchise following the Season 8 player auction held in Mumbai on October 12.
With its grassroots initiative in Jaipur, Rajasthan Rangers hopes to contribute to growing interest in tennis across the state while preparing for its first season in the Kia Tennis Premier League.
About Rajasthan Rangers
Rajasthan Rangers is a professional tennis franchise representing Rajasthan in Kia Tennis Premier League Season 8. Owned by Rajasthan-based RAPL Group and led by entrepreneur and Bollywood actor Salim Diwan, the franchise aims to establish a competitive presence in professional tennis while encouraging greater participation and interest in the sport across Rajasthan.
About Kia Tennis Premier League
The Kia Tennis Premier League is a franchise-based professional tennis competition featuring Indian and international players. Season 8 will see eight franchises compete in Hyderabad from December 8 to 13, 2026. Alongside the professional competition, the league conducts grassroots development initiatives to encourage junior tennis participation.