Ankita Raina backs India’s preparation for Billie Jean King Cup
India will begin its Billie Jean King Cup Asia/Oceania Group I campaign against Thailand at DLTA Stadium. Captain Vishal Uppal expressed confidence in the squad, which includes debutant Vaishnavi Adkar and veteran Ankita Raina, highlighting depth in Indian women’s tennis
Hyderabad: The Indian team will begin its campaign in the Billie Jean King Cup Asia/Oceania Group I tournament against Thailand at the DLTA Stadium on Tuesday.
Speaking at a press conference in the capital, India captain Vishal Uppal expressed confidence in his team’s preparation and readiness to perform in front of the home crowd.
“We are used to much hotter conditions in April in Delhi,” Uppal told the media on Monday. “But the weather is something we cannot control. We can control our practice sessions, and we have had some good practice sessions. I feel the team is ready to give its best and perform at its optimum level.”
The Indian squad comprises Vaishnavi Adkar, Sahaja Yamalappalli, Ankita Raina, Rutuja Bhosale and Zeel Desai, who joined the team at the last minute following injuries to Shrivalli Bhamidipaty and Vaidehee Chaudhari. While Uppal did not reveal his singles line-up for the opening tie, he emphasised that having multiple options reflects the growing depth in Indian women’s tennis.
“That’s for me to know and for you to find out on match day,” Uppal said when asked about who would play the singles rubbers. “If I have a problem picking players for a tie, then that is a good problem to have. It shows the depth of women’s tennis now. For example, Zeel was just playing a tournament last week and we asked her to come here, and she joined the team.”
Twenty-one-year-old Vaishnavi Adkar, who climbed to India No 1 in the rankings on Monday and is set to make her debut for the national team, described the experience as a special moment in her career. “It is an honour to be on this team representing the country. It makes it even more special because all of us are on the same team. It is rare that we get to play together, so it is a privilege.”
Veteran Ankita Raina, who has represented India for over a decade, echoed the captain’s confidence. “We know the players. We have played against them and know their strengths and weaknesses. We are prepared. We will take it match by match, day by day. We have done it before outside India and achieved the same performance goals here too.”
On Sunday evening, the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association (DLTA) hosted a welcome dinner in the capital for the participating teams. The evening blended culture with sport, as members of the Indian team arrived in elegant sarees, adding a distinctly Indian touch to the international event. Teams from India, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Mongolia, New Zealand and Thailand attended. AITA President Anil Jain and MLA Kartar Singh Tanwar also graced the occasion.
Matches at the DLTA Stadium will begin at 3 pm daily, with free entry for spectators. Uppal signed off expressing hope that strong home support would play a decisive role for the Indian team.
“I hope Delhi NCR comes out in large numbers and supports the women’s team and really becomes the X factor for us. DLTA has always been a happy hunting ground for us. Let’s hope we can do that again and come Saturday, we have a bigger smile on our face.”
