Indian Tennis Player Vedant Mohan finishes Runner-Up at the Euro Tennis Meet

Indian Tennis Player Vedant Mohan finishes Runner-Up at the Euro Tennis Meet

Vedant Mohan

Vedant Mohan had more than his fair share of obstacles on his road to success. Having qualified for the Euro Tennis Meet – a prestigious U-10 event in Europe – after winning the regional and national meets in Spain (where he trains), Mohan was the only one among the handful of sublime boy’s players who attended the event without a coach.

Held in Umag, Croatia, the Meet comprised of 14 of the best U-10 tennis players, all of whom qualified by winning similarly tiered tournaments in their home countries.

The youngster, who sported torn tennis shoes at one point in the tournament, displayed incredible resilience as he rose all the way, but one, to the top at the tournament, following an exemplary performance. The victor was Greece’s Rafael Pagonis, another exceptional player with whom Mohan partnered to win the doubles title at the tournament.

After Mohan’s father, a former pilot, lost his job, they entire family moved to Spain, where Mohan now trains. The 10 year-old is coached by Daniel Kiernan, a former professional tennis player, at the Soto Tennis Academy in Sotogrande. He has, in fact, already made a name for himself as a regular in the boy’s Spanish Circuit, home to some of the world’s best players from reputed Academies.

While a ranking system does not currently exist for players U-10, the youngest age group in the Junior Circuit, to avoid the pressure it brings, his victory at the notional competition in Spain may provide an approximate idea of his standing amongst his peers.

Parents’ Bold Choices Leads to Success

Vedant Mohan
Vedant Mohan

From a young age, Mohan’s parents knew that their child was extraordinary. Their daring decisions may well have made the boy into the champion he is today.

Dhruv and Anisha Mohan had made inquiries to renowned international players and coaches in order to gauge Vedant’s talent. Included amongst them was also the John McEnroe Tennis Academy in New York, who had already expressed an interest in taking up the youngster’s training.

They settled on the Soto Training Academy, and moved to Spain from Muscat, where they were previously based, the day that Vedant’s father, a pilot, lost his job within huge layoffs due to the raging pandemic. With no job, and only measly savings in stow, they arrived in Spain, where Mohan began his training, 13 months ago. The strict labour laws in Spain prohibit foreign nationals from even acquiring waitressing jobs without the required authorising permits.

While they have made it thus far with borrowings from relatives, the future seems uncertain, as they amount they owe the coach and the Academy keeps mounting. The only thing that does seem certain is that Mohan might be a star in the making.

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