Baylor varsity honors Indian tennis player

WACO, TX — An Indian American 1999-2001 class student of Baylor University, Jahnavi Parekh, is among eight outstanding former student-athletes who have been inducted into the Waco, Texas-based school’s 57th annual Hall of Fame class.

Parekh, a three-time all-Big 12 performer, is also the first women’s tennis player in the Hall of Fame.

After transferring from Sydenham College in Mumbai-Maharashtra, she helped Baylor to three straight NCAA tournament trips from 1999 to 2001. She finished with an 88-28 career record in singles and a 62-31 mark in doubles. In 2000, she was ranked No. 13 in the entire NCAA.

While she was in India, Parekh was the top junior player placing No. 1 in singles and No. 2 in doubles. She was No. 98 in the ITF juniors ranking.

She placed second in the ITA Regional Rolex Tournament from 1999-2000, winning the qualifying singles bracket of the ITA All-American Championships. In 2001, she ranked No. 18 in the ITA rankings.

Parekh, who pursued a master’s degree in accountancy from Baylor University, is currently director, merchandise finance strategy, at Walmart ecommerce.

Since 1960, the Hall of Fame, which recognizes and honors individuals whose participation and contributions have enriched and strengthened the university’s athletics program, has inducted 220 Baylor athletes from all manner of sports, while another 23 have been recognized on the Wall of Honor.

The 2016 Baylor Athletic Hall of Fame banquet will be held October 14 in the Brazos Room at the Waco Convention Center.