Riya Bhatia, 24, currently ranked number two in India in women’s singles, is struggling to sustain the sport of Tennis. The player ranked 338 worldwide in women’s singles faces sponsorship problems and difficulties receiving coaching at the highest level, let alone participating in WTA tours abroad. As Tennis is considered an elite sport in India, it fails to attract much-needed funding and support.

Riya has won three singles titles and three doubles titles on the ITF Circuit. She has also represented India at the 2018 Asian Games in Palembang. Yet, the lack of government support, sponsorships, and financial assistance makes it challenging to survive the sport.

Tennis costs Riya around Rs. 6 Lacs every month for coaching, nutrition, preparation, and touring. Amid financial troubles, Riya has to travel without a coach, fitness trainer, and physiotherapist on her tours. Riya has tried reaching out to the government and various entities for the sponsorship to pay the travel expenses, hotel expenses, food expenses, coaching expenses, etc., but she received no response.

Achievements by Riya:

Represent India in Billie Jean King Cup world group play-offs in Latvia April-2021.
She made history for India in FED CUP by qualifying for the world playoffs for the first time on 8 March 2020 in Dubai.
Represented India in Women’s Fed Cup 2019 and 2017 held in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Represented India in the 18th Asian Games held in Jakarta in 2018.
Represented India in the 5th Indoor Asian Games 2017 held in Turkmenistan.
Winner in W25K Singles held in Lagos, Nigeria from 14 October to 20 October 2019.
Winner in W25k held in Taipei in 2019.
She won the women’s National hard court and grass court championship in 2016.
Winner of W15K held in Colombo in 2017.
Winner of 10K ITF Women’s tournament held in Sharm-el-Sheikh from 19 to 26 September.

Riya has so much potential, but lack of funding is an obstacle in her journey. She is now looking at society for help. Your support and funding can help Riya achieve her dreams and make India proud. Please contribute and share this campaign with your peers.

Detailed Achievements:

The year 2021:

She played the WTA 700 premiere tournament held in Abu Dhabi from 4th to 9th January.
She played semi-finals in 3 W15 tournaments in Cairo, Egypt, from 11th to 31st January.
She played finals in the W25 tournament held in Pune, India, from 8th to 15th March.
Won against top 200 ranked opponent in Dubai W25 tournament from 29th March to 3rd April.
She represented India in the Fed Cup world group playoffs in Latvia in April 2021.
She became a finalist in the W25 tournament held in Lisbon, Portugal, from 26th April to 1st May.
She was the Quarterfinalist in the W60 tournament held in Spain from 10th to 15th May.
She won against former world no. Fifty in Latvia from 24th to 30th May.
Almost won against and played a very close/good match against current world no. 55 in Germany on the grass court in WTA tournament on 21st June.

The year 2020:

She won the match in WTA 250K IN Hua Hin (Thailand) in February 2020.
Quarter-finalist in WTA 25K IN JODHPUR 17th To 23rd February 2020.
She had qualified for the World Group playoffs in Fed Cup for India.
Finalist in Indoor women’s tournament W15 held in Lousada, Portugal from 9th to 13th November.
She played U.S open Grand Slam qualifying tournament from 27th August held in Prague, Czech Republic.

The year 2019:

She represented India in Women’s Fed Cup held in Astana, Kazakhstan, from 1st to 10 February.
She won W25K Singles held in Lagos, Nigeria, from 14th October to 20th October 2019.
She was the semi Finalist in W25K Singles held in Lagos, Nigeria, from 7th to 13th October.
She was the winner in W25k Doubles held in Taipei from 29th July to 4th August 2019.
Singles Finalist in Bangkok Open held in Nonthaburi, Thailand from 9th to 17th March.
Doubles finalist in Bangkok Open held in Nonthaburi, Thailand from 9th to 17th March.
Singles and Doubles Quarter-Finalist in WTA25k tournament held in Singapore from 13thto 19th May.
Singles Quarter Finalist in WTA 25K tournament held in Uzbekistan from 4th to 9th June.

The year 2018:

Semi-Finalist in 25K International women’s tournament held in Lagos, Nigeria from 8th to 14th October.
Finalist in 15K International women’s tournament held in Nonthaburi, Thailand from 27th August to 1st September.
She represented India in the 18th Asian Games held in Jakarta from 18th August to 2nd September.
Semi-Finalist in 25K International Women’s tournament held in Fergana, Uzbekistan from 18th to 24th June.
Winner of 15K International Women’s tournament held in Tiberias, Israel from 14th to 20th May.
Finalist in 15K International Women’s tournament held in Cairo, Egypt from 1st to 6th May

The year 2017:

Winner of 15 K International Women’s tournament held at Colombo from 2 to 8th October 2017.
Represented India 5th Asian Indoor games held in Turkmenistan from 15th to 24th September-2017
Finalist in Doubles in 15K International Women’s Tournament in Romania from 24th to 30th July 2017
Finalist in singles in 15K International Women’s tournament in Romania from 12th to 18th June-2017.
Finalist in doubles in 15K International Women’s tournament in Bosnia/ Herzegovina from 05th to 12th June-2017.
Finalist in doubles in 15K International Women’s tournament in Serbia from 29th May to 04th June-2017.
Semi-finalist in singles in 15K International Women’s tournament in Cairo, Egypt from 1st to 7th May.
Winner of AITA Women’s NATIONALS MUMBAI from 10th to 17th April 2017 • Finalist in doubles in 15 K International Women’s tournament held in Gwalior from 25th February to 4th March.
She represented India in Women’s Fed Cup held in Astana, Kazakhstan, from 6th February To 11th February.

The year 2016:

Winner of 10K ITF Women’s tournament held in Sharm-el-Sheikh from 19 to 26 September.
Semi-finalist in doubles in 25K ITF Women’s held in Aurangabad from 11–16 January.
Finalist in doubles in 10K ITF Women’s held in Cairo, Egypt from 20–24 January.
Semi-finalist in doubles in 10K ITF Women’s held in Cairo, Egypt from 27-31 January.
Semi-finalist in doubles in 10K ITF Women’s held in Sharm-el-sheikh, Egypt from 3–7 February.
Semi-finalist in doubles in 10K ITF Women’s held in Poland from 30 May to 4 June.
Quarterfinalist in singles in 10K ITF Women’s held in Poland from 30 May to 4 June.
Qualified in 25K ITF Women’s held in Stuttgart, Germany from 27 June to 3 July.
She played in Bundesliga 2 team for the BASF tennis club in Ludwigshafen, Germany.
Winner of DTB Ranking Women’s tournament 3,500 euro held at
Ludwigshafen, Germany from 7 to 10 July.
Semi-Finals in doubles in 10K ITF Women’s tournament held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt from 29 August to 4 September.
Semi-Finals in singles and doubles in 10K ITF Women’s tournament held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt from 12 to 18 September.
National women’s champion of India of 2016 held in New Delhi from 03 October – 08 October
Finalist in doubles in 10K ITF Women’s held in Pune from 24 October–30 October
Grass court national Women's champion of 2016 held in Chandigarh from 28 November-3 December.
Singles finalist in 10K ITF Women’s tournament held in Djibouti from 5 - 10 December.
Doubles winner in 10K ITF Women’s tournament held in Djibouti from 5-10 December.
Doubles finalist in 10K ITF women's tournament held in Djibouti from 12-18 December.
Singles finalist in 10K ITF women's tournament held in Djibouti from 12-18 December.

The year 2015:

Pre-quarter finalist in $25000 ITF Women’s held in Ahmadabad from 6th April to 12th April.
Runners up in $10000 ITF Women’s held in Nasik from 11th May to 17th May.
Semi-finalist in singles and doubles in $10,000 ITF Women’s held in Hyderabad from 21-26 September.
Runners up in singles in $10,000 ITF Women’s held in Gulbarga from 16 – 21 November.
Semi-finalist in doubles in $10,000 ITF Women’s held in Gulbarga from 23–28 November.
One of the three Indians and the only qualifier to play pre-quarter-finalist in $25,000.
ITF Women’s held in Navi Mumbai from 14 – 19 December.

The year 2014:

Winner of AITA Women’s 5 lakh tournament held at Secunderabad from 20-25 January.
Doubles semifinalist in 10,000$ ITF Women’s held in Djibouti from 8-14 December.
Won PFALZ Meisterschaft Women’s 3,000 euro held at Kaiserslautern, Germany from 5-9 June.
Won Women’s 1200 Euro tournament held at Karlsruhe, Germany from 11-15 June.
Winner of DTB Ranglisten Women’s tournament 3,500 euro held at Ludwigshafen, Germany from 17-
20 July
Finalist in Doubles of Fenesta women’s nationals held in New Delhi from 6-11 October.

The year 2013:

Won U-18 Girls tournament held at Mutterstadt, Germany from 24-26 May.Won Women’s 800 euro tournament held at Mutterstadt, Germany from 14-16 June.
Winner of 1lakh AITA Women’s doubles tournament held at Chandigarh from 23-28 September.
Played Quarterfinals in ITF WOMEN’S 15,000 $ tournament held at Mumbai from11-16 November.
Winner of AITA Women’s 7 lakh doubles tournament held at New Delhi from 16-22 December.

The year 2012:

Won ITF Juniors Grade -4 held at Chennai from 27 August-01 September.
Finalist in doubles of ITF Juniors Grade-4 held at Hyderabad from 3-8 September.
Won ITF Grade -5 held at Colombo, Sri Lanka from 8-14 October.
Won Doubles in ITF Grade-4 in Colombo, Sri Lanka from 15-21 October.