Tennis Pastime For British Women In India, 1912 Photo
Two British women are shown holding tennis racquets in this interesting 1912 group photo. A fashionably dressed European man and two other women are also visible. The two women with the racquets appear to be wearing tennis clothes appropriate to that time–long skirts with baggy blouses. The woman in the dark dress, seen in the group, appears to hold some significance.
To see her in other photos, click here European Lady In Hand-Pulled Rickshaw In Simla, 1912 Photo and Colonial Era European Lady At Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri, Agra Fort, 8 Photos 1912.
Tennis was first introduced in India around the 1880s by British civilians and officers from the army. It became largely popular and rapidly spread throughout India, mainly in European concentration areas. And not for long, tournaments began being held regularly. Consequently, by the 1900s, many Indians began to pick up the game.
Indians even participated in the Wimbledon tournament. Sirdar Nihal Singh was the first Indian to take part in the Wimbledon of 1908. Likewise, the British had introduced or revived many other sports and games in India. Polo, badminton, field sports, regattas, etc, were some of them. Click on the photo to enlarge.
Did you know – the first tennis tournament took place in Lahore in 1885. At the time, it was in undivided India and is now in Pakistan.
Previous posts – Pensive Lady British India Watercolour Sketch, 1837., Rampart of Tipu Sultan’s Bangalore Fort – Old Postcard 1900., Chinese Fishing Nets Cochin – Old Print 1922., Early Map of Bombay Presidency 1838.
