Vaishnavi Adkar wins bronze, ends India’s 46-year wait for a tennis medal

Vaishnavi Adkar settled for a bronze in the women’s singles tennis event at the FISU World University Games 2025 in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany, becoming only the second Indian to win a medal in the sport in the competition’s history.

The 20-year-old Indian tennis player went down to Eszter Meri of Slovakia 6-2, 4-6, 4-6 in the semi-finals on Thursday but still secured a spot on the podium as both losing semi-finalists are awarded bronze medals in tennis at the Universiade.

Adkar had earlier put on a clinical display to defeat home favourite Sina Herrmann 6-1, 6-4 in the quarter-finals, sealing her place in the last four and guaranteeing India a rare medal in the sport.

Her bronze is India’s first tennis medal at the World University Games in 46 years. The only other Indian player to win a medal in the sport was Nandan Bal, who bagged silver in the men’s singles at the 1979 edition in Mexico City.

Adkar is the first Indian women’s tennis player ever to win a medal at the World University Games to date.

The tennis bronze was India’s second medal registered so far at the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 Games medal tally following a bronze in the badminton mixed team event.

However, India are also confirmed of at least two medals in archery with only the colours left to be finalised.

The 32nd edition of the biennial FISU World University Games is being held from July 16 to 27 across six cities in Germany. Over 300 Indian athletes are competing at the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 Games.

India’s best-ever showing at the World University Games came at Chengdu 2023, where they finished seventh overall with 26 medals (11 gold, 5 silver, 10 bronze), with shooting contributing 14 podium finishes, including eight golds.

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