India to host Billie Jean King Cup Play-Offs in Bengaluru for the first time

India will host the Billie Jean King Cup Play-Offs for the first time in Bengaluru from November 14 to 16. Captain Vishal Uppal expressed confidence as India face Slovenia and the Netherlands, with strong support from SAI and AITA

Hyderabad: As India gets set to host the Billie Jean King Cup Play-Offs for the first time at the S M Krishna Tennis Stadium, Bengaluru, from November 14 to 16, captain of the Indian team Vishal Uppal remains upbeat.

“What I can definitely predict and tell you is that the Indian team will come out all guns blazing, and we will try our hardest and work hard for every point. We are a very process-oriented team. We will focus on our process and not on the result, because we cannot control the result. But we can definitely control our attitude and our effort, and that is what we are going to focus on,” he explained.

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This is the first time India is hosting an international women’s tennis event of such stature.

The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has approved financial assistance of Rs 80 Lakh to the All India Tennis Association (AITA) under the Assistance to National Sports Federations (ANSF) scheme for the conduct and organisation of the Billie Jean King Cup Play-Offs in Bengaluru.

India (World No 27) face a formidable challenge against Slovenia (World No 19) and the Netherlands (World No 14) in Group G. “The preparation has been very good. We have been working hard and getting ready for this historic tie here in Bengaluru. The morale in the camp is high,” said Uppal.

“It was very crucial and critical getting the required support from the Sports Authority of India and from the Government of India, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, because our athletes need all the support they can get. The whole team is very thankful for it,” he added.

Through its Target Asian Games Group (TAGG) scheme, SAI had also sanctioned the Senior National Coaching Camp for 12 members, including 10 players, held from November 4–11, 2025, at the same venue in Bengaluru.

The camp featured the squad — Sahaja Yamalapalli, Shrivalli Bhamidipaty, Ankita Raina, Riya Bhatia, Prarthana Thombare, and reserve Vaidehee Chaudhari — under the guidance of Uppal and coach Radhika Kanitkar, with physiotherapists Dipali Pandey and Namita Rao providing support.

Sahaja and Shrivalli are part of the Target Asian Games Group (TAGG) scheme, modelled on the lines of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), to ensure complete assistance to Asian Games medal prospects and support to players in disciplines where India has struggled to win medals at the Olympics in recent times, like surfing, gymnastics, cycling and tennis.

SAI had also provided financial assistance of Rs 40 Lakh to the AITA for hosting the Billie Jean King Cup Asia/Oceania Group-1 in Pune from April 7 to 15 this year, along with separate funding for its preparatory camp from April 1 to 7.

The seven group winners from the playoffs in Bengaluru will secure a ticket to the 2026 Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers, staying on course for a place in the elite Finals.

Group G schedule:

Nov 14: Netherlands vs Slovenia

Nov 15: India vs Slovenia

Nov 16: India vs Netherlands