Thaindian News

New Delhi, Feb 6 (IANS) India returned to Group I with a 3-0 defeat of Kyrgyzstan in the Asia-Oceania promotional play-offs at National Tennis Centre in Kuala Lumpur Saturday.
Rushmi Chakravarthi and Sania Mirza registered contrasting wins to hand India a 2-0 win in the Group II tie.

Rushmi and Sanaa Bhambri then made a clean sweep for India after their opponents conceded the match mid way due to injury.

Rushmi, in the morning, replaced Poojashree Venkatesha who pulled out complaining of knee pain. The 31-year-old, playing her first singles match in three days, was taken to three sets by Bermet Duvanaeva before winning 6-4, 1-6, 6-3. Sania, on the other hand, was quick in dispatching Ksenia Palkina 6-0, 6-2.

Rushmi and Sanaa were leading 6-0, 1-0 in the doubles when Duvanaeva and Nelli Buyuklianova pulled out retired hurt.

Coach Enrico Piperno said India still have a long way to go.

“It is satisfying to win and qualify for the Group I. We were always confident about Sania but a lot depended on how our second singles player and doubles pair respond to the challenge. I am glad that everyone delivered and we are back in Group I,” Piperno told IANS from Kuala Lumpur.

“However, Group I has become very competitive and we will have to work hard. Kazakhstan has three top 100 players, Chinese Taipese, New Zealand and Thailand, they all have very good players. We can rest on our wins in past few days.”

The team will return to Chennai Sunday while Sania will fly to play in Pattaya, Thailand.