Mumbai, 09 November (H.S.): The Kia Tennis Premier League (TPL) has announced scholarships for 36 promising junior players under its ‘Race to Gold’ (RTG) initiative, aimed at nurturing emerging talent in Indian tennis. Selected from six regions, each player will receive a scholarship of Rs. 75,000. In addition, one boy and one girl from the Under-14 category will get an opportunity to travel to Melbourne to witness the Australian Open 2027.

On Monday, TPL announced the dates for the 2026 Race to Gold Masters competition. A total of 36 talented players will be selected from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Karnataka and the North Zone. Kia India has joined the initiative for the first time, supporting efforts to strengthen Indian tennis at the grassroots level and create opportunities for young players to progress on the international stage.

The Race to Gold Masters competition will be held over three weekends in November, featuring boys’ and girls’ categories across the Under-10, Under-12 and Under-14 age groups.

Competition to Be Held in Three Stages

The tournament will be conducted across three events:

- Kia TPL North Zone Masters: November 14–15, Delhi Lawn Tennis Association (DLTA), Delhi.

- Kia TPL Gujarat Masters: November 21–22, SRT10 Altevol Centre of Excellence, Ahmedabad.

- Kia TPL Maharashtra Masters: November 28–29, Goregaon Sports Club, Mumbai.

Under the scholarship programme, players will receive tennis equipment, personalised apparel based on their requirements, professional guidance and opportunities to interact with leading Indian tennis legends Leander Paes and Rohan Bopanna, as well as top international players.

The 36 scholarship recipients will be felicitated during the eighth season of the Kia Tennis Premier League, scheduled to be held in Hyderabad this December. The ceremony will also be part of the league's live broadcast on JioHotstar. According to TPL, a total of 80 young players have benefited from the Race to Gold scholarship programme since its inception.

In addition to the initiative, TPL and its associated teams have organised eight free tennis camps across eight states. These camps focused on educating children and their parents about the importance of nutrition, fitness and mental conditioning, with the objective of providing a stronger foundation for the next generation of Indian tennis players.

Opportunity to Attend the Australian Open 2027

Taking the Race to Gold initiative to the international level, Kia India and TPL have also launched the ‘Kia TPL Road to the Australian Open 2027’ programme.

Under this initiative, six Under-14 boys and six Under-14 girls who receive scholarships from the six regions will compete in a final round-robin tournament in Mumbai on November 29. The top-performing boy and girl in the competition will each earn an opportunity to travel to Melbourne to attend the Australian Open 2027.

Kia India will bear the travel and other expenses for both selected players and one accompanying parent each. The initiative will give the young athletes an opportunity to experience one of the world's most prestigious tennis tournaments up close and gain exposure to international tennis.

The Race to Gold initiative, operated through the TPL app, aims to promote tennis at the grassroots level and provide young players with the resources, support and opportunities required to pursue the sport and advance their careers.

Initiative Aims to Encourage Young Talent to Dream Big: Kunal Thakkur

Tennis Premier League co-founder Kunal Thakkur said, “Race to Gold is an important step towards our vision of building a strong grassroots tennis ecosystem in India. Through 36 scholarships and the opportunity to attend the Australian Open, we are giving young talent the chance to dream big. We are delighted that Kia India is supporting this vision and helping us take it forward.”

TPL co-founder Mrunal Jain said, “Our focus is on supporting players beyond the tennis court as well. The Race to Gold scholarships and the opportunity to attend the Australian Open will provide aspiring players with the resources, exposure and inspiration they need to take their game to the next level. Kia India's support will help us create an even greater impact at the grassroots level.”

An Initiative to Inspire Young Players: Atul Sood

Kia India Senior Vice-President (Sales and Marketing) Atul Sood said, “At Kia, we believe in creating opportunities that inspire talented young people. Our association with TPL reflects this commitment. Race to Gold is helping young players pursue their ambitions, while Road to the Australian Open 2027 takes this initiative a step further. Through this programme, two promising players will get the opportunity to experience one of the world's leading tennis tournaments. We are delighted to be part of this journey.”

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar