The Indian team lost 1-2 to third seed China in the match for the third place, but qualified for the World Group in the Junior Davis Cup under-16 tennis tournament which concluded in Kuching, Malaysia, on Sunday.
“We wanted to win the title, but am glad that we first topped the group and achieved the primary goal of qualification for the World Group,” said the captain of the team Vishaal Uppal, here on Tuesday.
The World Group competition will be played at San Luis Potosi, Mexico, in September. Japan, Australia and China were the other teams to qualify from the zone.
Pat for Ronit
“The Indian team qualified because of the strong performance of Ronit Bisht. He was quite focused. He cramped after his singles during the semifinals against Australia. Still, we took the double to three sets,” said Vishaal, as he chose Ronit Bisht for special praise.
The second-seeded India had its chances in the semifinals against the fourth seeded Australia, but lost the decisive doubles after winning the first set.
In the quarterfinals, India, which had topped the group, beating Pakistan, Philippines and Chinese Taipei in that order, won the decisive doubles against Thailand.
Though Ronit Bisht won all his singles matches, dropping a mere 13 games in four matches, the captain opted to rest him for the singles in the match for the third place against China, to check out the other two boys Vinod Gowda and Arjun Kadhe.
The results (featuring India):
Third place: China beat India 2-1 (Ning Yu-Quing bt Vinod Gowda 6-3, 6-2; Xin Gao bt Arjun Kadhe 7-5, 3-6, 6-2; Xin Gao & Juna Nan Tao lost to Ronit Bisht & Vinod Gowda, walkover).
Semifinals: Australia beat India 2-1 (Jay Andrilijic bt Vinod Gowda 6-3, 6-3; Jack Schipanski lost to Ronit Bisht 2-6, 1-6; Jay Andrijic & Jordan Thompson bt Ronit Bisht & Arjun Kadhe 4-6, 6-4, 6-2).
Quarterfinals: India beat Thailand 2-1 (Ronit Bisht bt Krittin Koaykul 6-2, 6-2; Arjun Kadhe lost to Tas Suwanasang 5-7, 6-7(5); Ronit Bisht & Vinod Gowda bt Nattan Benjasupawan and Tea Suwanasang 2-6, 6-4, 6-4).
League: India beat Chinese Taipei 2-1 (Ronit Bisht bt Li-Lun Lee 6-3, 6-2; Arjun Kadhe bt Chih-Jen Ho 6-3, 6-2; Ronit Bisht & Vinod Gowda lost to Chih-Jen Ho and Li-Lun Lee 3-6, 4-6).
India beat Philippines 3-0 (Ronit Bisht bt Calvin Charles Canlas 6-0, 6-1; Arjun Kadhe bt Jurence Zosimo Mendoza 6-4, 6-0; Ronit Bisht & Vinod Gowda bt Jacob Lagman & Jurence Zosimo Mendoza 6-2, 6-0).
India beat Pakistan 3-0 (Vinod Gowda bt Ahmed Babar 6-0, 6-1; Arjun Kadhe bt Aadil Azeem Kohari 6-0, 6-0; Vinod Gowda & Arjun Kadhe bt Ahmed Babar & Nameer Muhammad Shamsi 6-1, 6-4).
The final placings: 1. Japan, 2. Australia, 3. China, 4. India, 5. Korea, 6. Uzbekistan, 7. Chinese Taipei, 8. Thailand, 9. Hong Kong, 10. New Zealand, 11. Indonesia, 12. Kazakhstan, 13. Malaysia, 14. Syria, 15. Philippines and 16. Pakistan.
