Odisha junior Davis Cupper Debasis Sahoo won boys doubles title and finished singles runner-up in the Raja Narsimha Rao Memorial ITF Juniors (U-18) Tennis Tournament (J60), held at Lake View Tennis Aademy in Hyderabad from 28 August to 2 September 2023.

In the doubles final, the top-seeded Indian pair of Debasis and Samarth Sahita defeated second-seeded compatriots Sehaj Singh Pawar and Pratyaksh 6-2, 6-3. Debasis and Samarth reached the final, beating Parth Deorukhakar and Tanishq Jadhav 6-2, 6-3 in second round, Aradhya Kshitij and Victor Mohanram (India-Spain) 6-4, 6-4 in quarterfinals and Vraj Gohil and Smit Nileshbhai Patel (India) 6-4, 6-7(5), 10-7 in semifinals.

In boys singles, top seed Debasis lost to second seed Sehaj Singh Pawar (India) in the final 7-6(6), 2-6, 1-6. On his way to the final, Debasis beat Kashit Nagral (India) 7-5, 4-6, 6-1 in second round, Vatsal Manikantan (India) 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 in third round, Vraj Gohil (India) 6-4, 7-6(5) in quarterfinals and Venkat Rishi Batlanki (USA) 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in semifinals.

A trainee of Bhubaneswar-based KIIT-Altevol Alexander Waske Tennis Academy, Debasis was recently nominated for the prestigious 31st Ekalabya Puraskar for the year 2023. He will receive the honour with a cash award of Rs 5 lakh.
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PHOTO: Debasis Sahoo poses with his ITF Junior doubles winners and singles runner-up trophies in Hyderabad on 2 September 2023.