The Hindu : Sport / Tennis : India stays in Group I

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Sunday, Feb 03, 2008
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India stays in Group I

BANGKOK: Uzbekistan won a spot in the Fed Cup World Group II for the first time after beating New Zealand 2-1 in the Asia/Oceania zone women’s play-off here on Saturday.

Sania saves India

Sania Mirza returned to the court to help India beat Hong Kong and escape demotion.

The World No. 29, who did not play any of India’s Pool A matches due to leg injury, finally took the field in the deciding doubles after the tie was locked 1-1. Pairing with Sunitha Rao, Sania was instrumental in downing the Hong Kong pair of Yang Zi-jun and Zhang Ling 7-6(6), 6-2 to ensure that India finish seventh in the eight-team Group I and remain in the same group next year.

The results:

Group I: Uzbekistan bt New Zealand 2-1. Indonesia bt Thailand 2-1.Taiwan bt Australia 3-0 [walkover].

India bt Hong Kong 2-1 [Shikha Uberoi bt Yang Zi-jun 6-1, 7-6(5); Isha Lakhani lost to Zhang Ling 7-5, 6-3; Sania Mirza & Sunitha Rao bt Yang Zi-jun & Zhang Ling 7-6(6), 6-2].

Group II: South Korea bt Kazakhstan 2-0.

Turkmenistan bt Syria 2-1.

Philippines bt Singapore 2-0.

Final Placing: Group I: 1. Uzbekistan (promoted to World Group II), 2. New Zealand, 3. Taiwan, 4. Australia, 5. Indonesia, 6. Thailand, 7. India, 8. Hong Kong;

Group II: 1. South Korea (promoted to Asia/Oceania zone Group I), 2. Kazakhstan, 3. Philippines, 4. Singapore, 5. Turkmenistan, 6. Syria, 7. Sri Lanka. — Agencies

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