Triumph amid trials defined India’s men’s wheelchair tennis journey at the 2026 World Team Cup Asia Qualifier, where they stormed to bronze via a 3-0 rout of Chinese Taipei. Bengaluru hosted this ITF spectacle, the Asian proving ground for wheelchair tennis’s grandest team event, akin to the Davis Cup.
The trio of Shekhar Veeraswami (210), Basavaraj Kundargi (185), and Kartik Karunakaran (351) absorbed two 0-3 losses before igniting. Korea’s Han Sungbong (46) steamrolled Karunakaran 6-1, 6-1, Im Ho Won (61) crushed Kundargi 6-1, 6-2, doubles Lee Jihwan (52)-Han 6-3, 6-2.
Sri Lanka followed suit: Ranawira (63) blitzed Veeraswami 6-2, 6-0, Dharmasena (78) annihilated Kundargi 6-0, 6-0, doubles Disanayaka-Wijesiriwardene 6-3, 6-3.
Pakistan bore the brunt of India’s resurgence, falling 0-3: Karunakaran demolished Firas (156) 6-0, 6-0, Veeraswami dispatched Hussain (173) 6-0, 6-1, doubles 6-0, 6-0.
Chinese Taipei met the same fate for bronze: Karunakaran felled Tang (84) 6-1, 6-1, Veeraswami toppled Wang (92) 6-1, 6-2, doubles hammered Cheng (101)-Tang 6-1, 6-0. This success spotlights India’s ascent, powered by Karnataka stalwarts.
Captain-coach Peter Vijay Kumar hailed, ‘Historic third place, first bronze. Players excelled with seamless synergy and growth. Earning bronze here, the ultimate qualifier challenge, deserves applause.’
Women’s efforts by Shilpa (70), Prathima (83), and Mubina (112) were gritty yet unrewarded. Korea 3-0: Han Inkyung trounced Prathima 6-0, 6-0, Park Juyun downed Shilpa 6-1, 6-1, doubles 6-0, 6-0.
China 3-0: Wang (4) routed Prathima 6-1, 6-0, Li (2) overwhelmed Shilpa 6-0, 6-1, doubles 6-0, 6-0.
Kazakhstan thriller: Umutkulova outlasted Prathima 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(3), Shilpa prevailed 6-4, 6-4 over Butimbayeva, doubles decided 6-2, 6-7(1), [10-5] to Kazakhstan 2-1.
India’s men have set a new benchmark, fueling national pride in adaptive sports.