Khelo: Mahak and Zeel's rivalry to be highlight in tennis

Budding tennis players Mahak Jain and Zeel Desai lead a host of teenage stars that line-up at the Khelo India Youth Games to be held later this week at the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex here.

Both Mahak and Zeel have lead by example on court and also share a healthy on-court rivalry among themselves.

While 17-year-old Mahak, a two-time national women's champion, remains a stand out by beating opponents older and more experienced than her, Gujarat's Zeel has been her challenger in waiting, a media release issued Tuesday said.

It is this rivalry that exemplifies the games purpose and will make the tennis event a treat to watch out for.

The Mahak-Zeel clash is a big rivalry in the making for tennis fans.

Among the others who line up as challengers are national junior champion Humera Shaik (Telangana), Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty, Shivani Amineni, Kaavya Sawhney, Vaidehi Chaudhari and Salsa Aher (Maharashtra), it said.

In the men's section emerging players in Manish Sureshkumar, Nitin Sinha, Aryan Goveas, Siddhant Banthia, Sacchitt Sharma and Isaque Eqbal make up an exciting field.

Other contenders include Calvin Gomei, Megh Patel, Mann Shah and Digvijay Pratap Singh.

For the under-17 event, Krish Patel, Denim Yadav, Sushant Dabas, Divesh Gahlot, Ajay Malik and Dev Javia are the ones to watch out for.

In the girls' section, it will be Gargi Pawar, Vipasha Mehra, Sharannya Gaware, Bhakti Shah, Sudipta Senthilkumar and Rutuja Chaphalkar.

The rules stipulate participation in only one age group for each player.

The draw for the event will be 16 for singles and eight for doubles, the release stated.