India, July 27 -- Vaishnavi Nihar Adkar, the 20-year-old tennis player from Pune who won bronze at the World University Tennis Championship held in Germany on July 24, said the tournament was tough as she faced top players and Women's Tennis Association (WTA)-ranked competitors.

The third-year BBA student at Brihan Maharashtra College of Commerce (BMCC) who represented Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) in the international tournament said there is no alternative for self-belief, discipline and hard work.

Her win is India's first medal in tennis at the World University Games in 46 years with the last won by Nandan Bal, who took silver in men's singles at the Mexico City edition in 1979.

In the hard-fought semifinal clash in Rhine-...