Ankita Raina (World Rank: 239) will lead the Indian Challenge at the Billie Jean King Cup 2024 Asia/Oceania Group I playoffs in Changsha, China from April 8 to 13th. The matches will be played on clay courts
Joining Ankita Raina in the Indian team will be Sahaja Yamalapalli (World Rank: 309), Shrivalli Bhamidipaty (World Rank: 430), Rutuja Bhosale (Doubles World Rank: 229) & Prarthana Thombare (Doubles World Rank: 165).
Vaidehi Chaudhary (World Rank: 543) has been named the squad’s reserve player.
Billie Jean King Cup (formerly Fed Cup) is the leading Women’s Team event.
Apart from India, the Asia/Oceania Group I includes China, South Korea, Chinese Taipei, New Zealand & Pacific Oceania. The top 2 in the round-robin league will qualify for the World Group Playoffs next year while the bottom 2 will be relegated to Asia/Oceania Group II.
Chances
China including Qinwen Zheng (World Rank: 8) is the obvious favorite with the entire squad ranked in the top 100 of their respective rankings. India will look to finish 2nd by beating the other teams similar to India in terms of their player rankings.
In 2023, India had finished 4th in the group. The last time India qualified for the World Group Playoffs was in 2020, finishing 2nd behind China.
India will look at the workhorse Ankita Raina to come up with the goods against the leading singles players. She recently had two good outings in doubles at W50 events in Japan.
Sahaja & Shrivalli are near their career highs in Singles on the back of their performances in the Indian W35 events.
Prarthana Thombare will be high on confidence having just won the W75 doubles title at Split.
Written By Nithish Raghunandanan
