Mar 01, 2026
Gurugram, March 1, 2026:In a spectacular finale to a week of world-class tennis, India’s Zeel Desai emerged victorious at the HCL ITF W15 Tennis Tournament, defeating Polina Kuharenko 6-2, 7-6(3). The victory, achieved in 1 hour and 51 minutes at The Tennis Project, Gurugram, marks a significant milestone for Indian women’s tennis on the international stage.
Zeel, the tournament’s 5th seed, showcased clinical precision early on, racing through the opening set 6-2. The second set saw a spirited comeback from Kuharenko, who led 4-3 before Zeel broke back to serve for the match at 5-4. Despite a late surge from Kuharenko to level the score at 5-5, Zeel maintained her composure in the tie-break, winning it 7-3 to the delight of the home fans.
The HCL ITF W15 Gurugram witnessed participation from leading international and Indian players, offering domestic athletes an important opportunity to compete at a professional level on home soil. With several Indian players featuring in the main draw and doubles events, the tournament served as a valuable platform for gaining ranking points without the burden of international travel.
Speaking on the successful completion of the tournament, Rajat Chandolia, AVP & Head – Brand and Strategy, HCL Group, said,“At HCL, we have always believed that sports is a powerful catalyst for transformation. Seeing an Indian athlete like Zeel Desai lift the trophy here in Gurugram validates our renewed focus on the tennis circuit. By hosting this ITF W15 tournament, we have provided our athletes with a platform to earn crucial WTA points and gain international exposure without the financial burden of overseas travel. This victory is a testament to our vision of seeing Indian players excel on the world stage.”
The tournament, which featured 72 elite athletes from across the globe, was led by Tournament Director Vishal Uppal, Captain of the Indian Billie Jean King Cup Team.
Vishal Uppal added, “It is an honor to partner with HCL. This title win for Zeel Desai is exactly why creating structured competitive opportunities within India is essential. We are bridging the gap between grassroots potential and international excellence, and this is just the beginning of a stronger pathway for our women players.”
Zeal Desai commenting on her win, “It was 200 percent fighting on the court. I am very happy with my performance and how I was fighting through the whole match.”
The HCL ITF W15 tournament is a key part of the ITF Women’s World Tennis Tour, offering a total prize purse of USD 15,000. With five Indian players securing direct entry and home-grown talent taking the top honors, the event has successfully reinforced HCL’s decade-long commitment to nurturing the Indian sporting ecosystem.
Notes for the editor
About HCL
Founded in 1976 as one of India’s original IT garage start-ups, HCL Group is a pioneer of modern computing with many firsts to its credit, including the introduction of the 8-bit microprocessor-based computer in 1978, well before its global peers. Today, the HCL Group has a presence across varied sectors that include technology, healthcare and talent management solutions and comprises three companies – HCL Infosystems, HCLTech and HCL Healthcare. The enterprise generates annual revenues of over US$14.5 billion with 226,300 employees operating across 60 countries. For further information, visit www.hcl.com
On behalf of HCL:
Alisha Bisherwal- alisha.a@shivnadarfoundation.com / 8447821231
Shruti Saxena- shruti-saxena@shivnadarfoundation.com / 9654356487