Vaishnavi Adkar has etched her name in Indian tennis history by securing a bronze medal at the World University Games in Germany. The 20-year-old's impressive performance marks only the second time an Indian tennis player has clinched a medal at this prestigious international event.
Adkar's journey to the semi-finals was marked by a dominant display of skill and determination. In the quarter-finals, she triumphed over local favorite Sina Hermann of Germany with a score of 6-1, 6-4. Earlier in the competition, she demonstrated her prowess by defeating Angella Okutoyi of Kenya, a junior Grand Slam champion, in straight sets (6-3, 6-4) to advance to the quarter finals. She also overcame Jolien Maria Xenia Geels of Netherlands 6-1, 6-0. Before that she had little trouble overcoming Finland's Venla Elisa Ahti 6-2, 6-4 to enter the pre-quarterfinals.
With this win, Adkar joins Nandal Bal as the only Indian tennis players to medal at the World University Games; Bal won a silver medal in men's singles in 1979 in Mexico City.
India has sent a contingent of around 300 athletes to the FISU World University Games 2025 in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany, which are taking place from July 16 to 27. These athletes are competing across 18 sports. Prior to Adkar's medal, India secured a bronze in the mixed team badminton event.
Other Indian athletes who have made their mark at the World University Games include the mixed badminton team, which reached the quarterfinals after defeating the USA. In swimming, Srihari Nataraj has twice broken the "Best Indian Time" in the 200m freestyle.
India's best-ever performance at the World University Games was at the Chengdu 2021 Games (held in 2023), where they won 26 medals, including 11 gold, 5 silver, and 10 bronze. Harveen Sarao is another notable Indian athlete, having won gold medals in women's 10m air pistol at the 2007 and 2011 Games. Dutee Chand won a gold medal in the women's 100m in 2019.
