Leela Row Dayal, a remarkable Indian woman, made history as the first Indian female tennis player to win a match at Wimbledon. Born in December 1911, she was raised in India and received education at home from her mother, Pandita Kshama Row, an esteemed Sanskrit scholar. Row’s multifaceted talents included writing, dancing, mountaineering, and playwriting, in addition to her prowess on the tennis court.
From a young age, Row exhibited a passion for tennis, inherited from her mother. During the 1920s and 1930s, she dominated the Indian tennis circuit, securing numerous victories and earning recognition as a singles and doubles player. Her outstanding performance led her to win her first All India Championship title in 1931, and she went on to claim six more in subsequent years.
In 1934, Leela Row etched her name in the annals of tennis history by becoming the first Indian woman to win a match at the prestigious Wimbledon tournament. She achieved a thrilling 4-6, 10-8, 6-2 victory over Gladys Southwell from Britain. Although she couldn’t advance further and lost in the next round to France’s Ida Adamoff, her groundbreaking feat opened doors for future Indian tennis players.
Row’s achievements symbolize a transformative period for Indian women, as European sports gained popularity, representing a broader movement towards emancipation. Notably, her mother Kshama Row was among the pioneering women tennis players in India during the 1920s, winning the singles title at the Bombay Presidency Hard Court Championships in 1927.
Beyond her tennis career, Leela Row Dayal possessed a deep appreciation for the arts and Indian culture. She wrote several books on Indian classical dances, including Natya Chandrika and Nritta Manjari, which explored the art and dance sequences of Bharatanatyam. Her books showcased her extensive research, and she even posed for illustrations, emulating the sculptures found in Southeast Asian temples.
Row’s passion for art extended beyond dance. She wrote a children’s book based on a Sanskrit poem by her mother, illustrated with delicate line drawings. Her work earned recognition, with one of her books becoming a treasured possession in the Asian Children’s Literature collection at Singapore’s National Library.
Leela Row Dayal’s life journey took a new direction when she married Harishwar Dayal, a civil servant and diplomat. Together, they shared a love for mountaineering and embarked on treks to the highest peaks, including the Khumbu region of Mount Everest. Tragically, Dayal passed away during one of their trips, leaving Row to continue her life’s adventures alone.
Despite her extraordinary accomplishments, Leela Row Dayal remains relatively unknown in India today, with limited research available on her life and family. In 1975, her paintings depicting Himalayan fauna were showcased at a bird sanctuary in France, marking her last known public recognition.
Leela Row Dayal’s legacy as a trailblazer in Indian tennis and her contributions to the arts deserve greater recognition. Her achievements on and off the court embody determination, versatility, and a deep-rooted passion for both sports and culture. As India’s first female Wimbledon match winner, Row remains an inspirational figure for aspiring athletes and artists alike.