Ramkumar, Prajnesh lone Indian seeds in Challenger Tennis

Indian Davis Cuppers Ramkumar Ramanathan and Prajnesh Gunneswaran, both ranked between 120 and 150, are the lone Indian men to be seeded in this year's USD 50,000 KPIT Men's Challenger Tennis to be held in Pune from November 17-24.

Ramkumar has an ATP ranking of 121 and Prajnesh 142, but the tournament will not see defending champion and two-time winner Yuki Bhambri in action as he has pulled out citing an injury.

"Yuki Bhambri (winner in 2015 and 2017) has sent a message that he's withdrawing because he is injured. It's a big loss for him," said Sunder Iyer, secretary of the Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association, which is organising the tournament, at a media conference here on Thursday.

In his absence Ramkumar, who lost to Bhambri in last year's final, and Prajnesh, runner up to Sadio Doumbia of France in 2016, would lead the home country's challenge.

These two are the lone Indians in the direct list of entries (cut off at ATP rank 280) who will be joined by four .