The Western India Championships[1] also known as the Western India Tennis Championships,[2] was a combined men's and women's tennis tournament founded in 1888 as the Bombay Gymkhana Club Tournament. The championships was played at the Gymkhana Club grounds, Bombay, Maharashtra, India. The championships ran until 1980 before they was discontinued.
| Western India Championships | |
|---|---|
| Defunct tennis tournament | |
| Founded | 1888 |
| Abolished | 1980 |
| Location | Bombay, Maharashtra, India |
| Venue | Bombay Gymkhana Club |
| Surface | Grass/Clay |
History edit
Tennis was introduced to India in the 1880s by British Army and Civilian Officers.[3] In 1888 the Western India Championships were founded as Bombay Gymkhana Club Tournament and played at the Bombay Gymkhana Club, Bombay, Maharashtra, India. In 1900 the tournament became known as the Western India Tournament, and 1912 it was officially named as the West India Championships.[4] The championships were staged until 1980 when they were abolished.
In 1947, 1955 and 1959 this tournament was held in conjunction with the All India Hard Court Championships. It was also held jointly with the Cricket Club of India tournament for the years 1970 and 1975.
Finals edit
Men's singles edit
(incomplete roll).[5]
| Year | Champions | Runners-up | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bombay Gymkhana Club Tournament | ||||
| 1888 |  Francis Reid Ward |
 T.C. Sangster |
2–6, 6–5, 6–3 | |
| 1889 | Alfred Bruce Sangster |
 Arthur Knapp Oliver |
6–1, 5–6, 6–4 | |
| 1890 | Eustace Ferrers Nicholson |
Arthur Elliott Barton |
6–5, 6–5, 6–4 | |
| 1891 | Eustace Ferrers Nicholson (2) |
Arthur Elliott Barton |
6–4, 3–5, 6–2, 6–1 | |
| 1892 | Captain C.S. Smith |
Pelham George von Donop |
8–6, 6–4, 6–1 | |
| 1894 | Captain C.S. Smith (2) |
Robert Montagu Poore |
6–3, 6–2, 6–1 | |
| 1897 | Herbert E. Cheetham |
Captain John Glennie Greig |
6-5, 6-2 | |
| 1898 | Captain John Glennie Greig |
Herbert E. Cheetham |
6-5, 6-3 | |
| 1899 | Arthur Cyril Ransome |
 Percy F. Fisher |
4–6, 6–3, 6–3, 6–1 | |
| Western India Tournament | ||||
| 1900 | Percy F. Fisher |
W. Reid |
6–4, 3–6, 6–4 | |
| 1902 | Francis J. Marshall |
W. Reid |
6–5, 6–4, 6–3 | |
| 1903 | W. Reid |
Herbert E. Cheetham |
6–1, 6–3, 6–0 | |
| 1904 | W. Reid (2) |
Ralph Kidd |
6–0, 3–6, 6–3 | |
| 1905 | Herbert E. Cheetham (2) |
Ralph Kidd |
? | |
| 1906 | John C. S. Rendall |
Herbert E. Cheetham |
6-3, 6-1 | |
| 1907 | W. Reid (3) |
T.C. Lucas |
6-4, 6-3 | |
| 1909 | J. Stuart Milne |
A.H. Glendenning |
6-5, 6-3 | |
| 1910 |  Richard Dubourdieu |
W. Reid |
? | |
| 1911 | F.R.R. Brooke |
J. Stuart Milne |
6-3, 6-3 | |
| Western India Championships | ||||
| 1912 | Hassan Ali Fyzee |
Captain J.T. Lucas |
7-5, 6-4 | |
| 1913 | Richard Dubourdieu (2) |
Udupi D. Ranga Rao |
6–4, 3–6, 6–2, 6–1 | |
| 1914 | Hassan Ali Fyzee |
Udupi D. Ranga Rao |
6–4, 2–6, 6–2, 6–3 | |
| 1915 | Udupi D. Ranga Rao |
N.F. Naoroji |
6-3, 6-2 | |
| 1916 | Udupi D. Ranga Rao (2) |
 Zenzo Shimidzu |
0–6, 6–0, 6–1 | |
| 1917 | Udupi D. Ranga Rao (3) |
Hassan Ali Fyzee |
6-3, 6-0 | |
| 1918 | Zenzo Shimidzu |
Udupi D. Ranga Rao |
6-4, 6-1 | |
| 1919 | John C. S. Rendall |
Zenzo Shimidzu |
10–8, 4–6, 6–2, 9–7 | |
| 1920 | Udupi D. Ranga Rao (4) |
Lewis Seymour Deane |
6-4, 6-2 | |
| 1921 | N.B. Bhagwat |
Tawara Tsumoru (Tsumio) Takeshi |
6–4, 2–6, 6–1 | |
| 1922 | Udupi D. Ranga Rao (5) |
Ernest Taylor Annett |
6-3, 6-2 | |
| 1923 | Sunao Okamoto |
Udupi D. Ranga Rao |
6-1, 6-1 | |
| 1924 | Mr. Chunilal |
R.A. Wagle |
6-0, 6-2 | |
| 1925 | Sunao Okamoto (2) |
Thomas William Brough |
6-0, 6-3 | |
| 1926 | Syed Mohammad Hadi |
Udupi D. Ranga Rao |
2-6, 7-5 6-1 | |
| 1927 | Alexander Maurice Dudley Pitt |
R.S. Raya Iyer |
8–6, 5–7, 6–1 | |
| 1928 | Alexander Maurice Dudley Pitt (2) |
Morley Fox |
6-4, 6-2 | |
| 1929 | Alexander Maurice Dudley Pitt (3) |
Morley Fox |
6-4, 6-2 | |
| 1930 |  Buster Andrews |
M. Kamruddin |
6-4, 6-3 | |
| 1931 | N.R. Suvarna |
B.H. Khardekar |
6–2, 3–6, 6–3 | |
| 1932 | Jiro Satoh |
Edward Vivian Bobb |
3–6, 6–3, 6–3 | |
| 1933 |  Giorgio de Stefani |
Edward Vivian Bobb |
6-4, 6-3 | |
| 1934 | Edward Vivian Bobb |
John Edward Tew |
7-5, 7-5 | |
| 1935 |  Josip Palada |
Franjo Punčec |
6–4, 3–6, 6–3, 6–2 | |
| 1936 | Roderich Menzel |
 Ladislav Hecht |
6-1, 6-1 | |
| 1937 | Antoine Gentien |
Alan Stedman |
7-5, 6-2 | |
| 1938 | Subba L.R. Sawhney |
Bernard Thomas Blake |
6–4, 2–6, 6–4 | |
| 1939 | Edward Vivian Bobb (2) |
Syed Abdul Azim |
3–6, 6–1, 6–3 | |
| 1940 | Edward Vivian Bobb (3) |
Syed Abdul Azim |
2–6, 6–1, 6–2 | |
| 1941 |  Finn Bekkevold[6] |
Charles William Barker |
7-5, 6-2 | |
| 1942 | Ghaus Mohammed Khan |
Prem Lal Pandhi |
6-2, 7-5 | |
| 1943 | S.S. Indulkar |
R.N. Pandit |
6–3, 2–6, 6–2 | |
| 1944/1945 | Not held (due to World War II) | |||
| 1946 | Narendra Nath |
 / Jimmy Mehta |
6-3, 6-3 | |
| Western India & All India Hard Court Championships | ||||
| 1947 | Narendra Nath (2) |
Khan-Iftikhar Ahmed[7] |
6-4 6-4 6-3 | |
| Western India Championships | ||||
| 1948 |  Torsten Johansson |
Lennart Bergelin |
6-4 ret. | |
| 1950 | Robert Abdesselam |
 Philippe Washer |
6–2, 9–7, 6–2 | |
| 1952 | Louis Straight Clark |
 Władysław Skonecki |
8–6, 6–3, 3–6, 2–6, 6–2 | |
| 1953 | Narendra Nath (3) |
Ramanathan Krishnan |
6–4, 7–5, 6–0 | |
| 1954 |  Jack Arkinstall |
Sumant Misra |
6–4, 1–6, 6–4 | |
| Western India & All India Hard Court Championships | ||||
| 1955 | Ramanathan Krishnan |
Jack Arkinstall |
6–2, 0–6, 3–6, 6–1, 6–3 | |
| Western India Championships | ||||
| 1956 | Ramanathan Krishnan (2) |
Jack Arkinstall |
5–7, 7–5, 6–0 ret. | |
| 1957 |  Jaroslav Drobný |
Jack Arkinstall |
6–4, 6–3, 6–3 | |
| 1958 | Ramanathan Krishnan (3) |
Billy Knight |
6–1, 6–2, 6–4 | |
| Western India & All India Hard Court Championships | ||||
| 1959 | Ramanathan Krishnan (4) |
Giuseppe Merlo |
6–4, 6–3, 6–4 | |
| Western India Championships | ||||
| 1960 | Ramanathan Krishnan (5) |
Warren Woodcock |
6–2, 6–3, 6–3 | |
| 1962 | Ramanathan Krishnan (6) |
Billy Knight |
8–6, 6–3, 6–1 | |
| 1965 | Shyam Minotra |
Ravi Venkatesan |
13–11, 9–7, 6-2 | |
| 1966 | Premjit Lall |
Osamu Ishiguro |
3–6, 6–4, 6–3, 8–6 | |
| 1967 | Jaidip Mukerjea |
Bob Carmichael |
5–7, 4–6, 6–2, 6–3 6-3 | |
| 1968 | Shiv Prakash Misra |
Premjit Lall |
1–6, 8–6, 9–7, 4–6, 6–3 | |
| ↓ Open Era ↓ | ||||
| 1969 | Shyam Minotra |
Mieczysław Rybarczyk |
6-1, 7-5 | |
Women's singles edit
(incomplete roll)
| Year | Champions | Runners-up | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western India Championships | ||||
| 1924 | Lena McKenna |
Mrs T.E. Cunningham |
6–8, 6–3, 6–3 | |
| 1925 | Gladys Tedman Bayley |
Meherbai Bhabha Tata |
6–1, 1–6, 6–1 | |
| 1926 | Phyllis Howkins Covell |
Annie Nepean Clayton |
6-0, 6-0 | |
| 1927 | Phyllis Howkins Covell (2) |
R. Wallis |
6-4, 6-3 | |
| 1928 | Phyllis Howkins Covell (3) |
G. Evans |
6-4, 6-1 | |
| 1929 | Mrs M.P. McDougall |
Olive Stebbing |
7-5, 6-1 | |
| 1930 | Phyllis Howkins Covell (4) |
Leila Row |
6-2, 6-1 | |
| 1931 | Leila Row |
Laura Woodbridge |
6-0, 6-1 | |
| 1932 | Laura Woodbridge |
Esther Bonjour |
6-4, 6-4 | |
| 1933 | Lucia Valerio |
Leila Row |
6-4, 6-3 | |
| 1934 | Leila Row (2) |
Esther Bonjour |
6-2, 6-1 | |
| 1935 | Jenny Sandison |
Leila Row |
3–6, 6–2, 6–4 | |
| 1936 | Jenny Sandison Boland (2) |
Hyacinth Harvey-Johnston |
6-3, 6-3 | |
| 1937 | Leila Row (3) |
Meher Dubash |
6-1, 6-2 | |
| 1938 | Lolita Simon Foottit |
Mrs E.H. Edney |
6–3, 3–6, 6–4 | |
| 1939 | I.S. Hannay Williams |
S. Emery |
6-4, 6-0 | |
| 1940 | Leila Row (4) |
Khanum Haji |
6-2, 6-2 | |
| 1941 | Leila Row (5) |
Khanum Haji |
6-3, 6-3 | |
| 1942 | Khanum Haji |
Leila Row |
6–8, 6–2, 9–7 | |
| 1943 | Leila Row (6) |
Laura Woodbridge |
6-3, 6-4 | |
| 1946 | Leela Row Dayal (7) |
Laura Woodbridge |
6-2, 6-0 | |
| Western India & All India Hard Court Championships | ||||
| 1947 | Leela Row Dayal (8) |
Khanum Haji Singh |
5–7, 6–2, 6–3 | |
| Western India Championships | ||||
| 1948 | (Not held) | |||
| 1949 | Khanum Haji Singh (2) |
Laura Woodbridge |
6-4, 6-4 | |
| 1950 | Gem Hoahing |
Leela Row Dayal |
6-0, 6-1 | |
| 1952 | Shirley Fry |
Doris Hart |
2–6, 6–4, 6–2 | |
| 1953 | Leela Row Dayal (9) |
Laura Woodbridge |
6–3, 7–9, 6–3 | |
| 1954 | Urmila Thapar |
Laura Woodbridge |
6–4, 4–6, 6–2 | |
| Western India & All India Hard Court Championships | ||||
| 1955 | Rita Davar |
Bridget Zachariassen |
6-3, 6-1 | |
| Western India Championships | ||||
| 1956 |  Totta Zehden |
Inge Reh Vogle |
6–3, 2–6, 6–4 | |
| Western India & All India Hard Court Championships | ||||
| 1957 | Khanum Haji Singh (3) |
Mrs Sarah Mody |
6-2, 6-3 | |
| Western India Championships | ||||
| 1958 | Bridget Zachariassen |
Laura Woodbridge |
6–4, 2–6, 8–6 | |
| 1959 | Mrs Sarah Mody |
Leela Punjabi |
2–6, 9–7, 10-8 | |
| 1960 | Mimi Arnold |
Margaret Hellyer |
6–8, 6–3, 6–2 | |
| 1961 | Margaret Hellyer |
Dechu Appaiah |
6-3, 6-4 | |
| 1962 | Pia Balling |
Dechu Appaiah |
6-1, 6-0 | |
| 1965 | Lakshmi Mahedevan |
Leela Punjabi |
6-2, 10-8 | |
| 1966 | Carol-Ann Prosen |
Nirupama Vasant |
6–3, 3–6, 6–4 | |
| 1968 | Nirupama Vasant |
Rattan Thadani |
6-2, 6-4 | |
| ↓ Open Era ↓ | ||||
| 1969 | Nirupama Vasant (2) |
 Judith Dibar |
8-6, 6-3 | |
| Western India Championships & Cricket Club of India Tournament | ||||
| 1970 (Feb) | Nirupama Vasant (3) |
 Irena Škulj |
3–6, 6–0, 6–3 | |
| 1970 (Dec) | Nirupama Vasant (4) |
Kiran Peshawaria |
6-2, 6-3 | |
| Western India Championships | ||||
| 1971 | (Not held) | |||
| 1972 | Nirupama Vasant Mankad (5) |
Marilyn Tesch |
6-4, 6-1 | |
| 1973 | Udaya Kumar |
Susan Das |
6-2, 6-4 | |
| 1974 | Susan Das |
Nirupama Vasant Mankad |
6-2, 6-4 | |
| 1975 | Nirupama Vasant Mankad (6) |
Udaya Kumar |
6-1, 6-1 | |
| 1976 | Nirupama Vasant Mankad (7) |
Lakshmi Mahedevan |
6-1, 6-0 | |
| Western India Championships & Cricket Club of India Tournament | ||||
| 1977 | Nirupama Vasant Mankad (8) |
Amreeta Ahluwalia |
6–4, 6–0 | |
| Western India Championships | ||||
| 1978 | Amreeta Ahluwalia |
Nirupama Vasant Mankad |
5–7, 6–4, 8–6 | |
| 1979 | Nirupama Vasant Mankad (9) |
Amreeta Ahluwalia |
6-3, 6-2 | |
| 1980 | Nandini Rangaraja |
Namratha Apparao |
7-5, 6-0 | |
Event names edit
- Bombay Gymkhana Club Tournament (1888–1899)
- Western India Tournament (1900–1911)
- Western India Championships (1912–1980)
References edit
- ^ "The Illustrated Weekly of India". The Illustrated Weekly of India. 91. Published for the proprietors, Bennett, Coleman & Company, Limited, at the Times of India Press: 57. July 1970.
- ^ "Clark Triumphs in West India Net Play. Straight Clark of Los Angeles beat Vladislav Sckonecki exiled pole, in the men's singles final of the Western India Tennis Championships in Bombay". Long Beach Independent. Long Beach, California, United States: Newspaper Archives. 25 February 1952. p. 59.
- ^ "History". aitatennis. New Delhi, India: All India Tennis Association. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
- ^ Datta, Pratip Kumar (2001). "Women's Tennis in India". A Century of Indian Tennis. New Delhi: Publications Division, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India. p. 79. ISBN 978-81-230-0783-0.
- ^ "Tournaments:Bombay – Western India Championships". The Tennis Base. Madrid: Tennismem SL. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
- ^ "Players: Finn Bekkevold". www.itftennis.com. International Tennis Federation. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
- ^ "Khan-Iftikhar Ahmed: Overview | ATP Tour | Tennis". ATP Tour. Association of Tennis Professionals. Retrieved 25 May 2023.