The Indian team preparing for the FedCup Asia-Oceania group-1 tennis event here visited the Ambassador’s home. The warmth and hospitality of the Ambassador Prabhat Kumar was a big source of inspiration for the Indian camp, trying to cope with the cold conditions.
“The Ambassador and his wife were extremely nice and friendly. Everyone had a nice evening. The vegetarians in the team were most happy to eat some Indian food,’’ said the captain of the Indian team, Vishaal Uppal.
“The preparation has been good. We reached early and that gave us more time to get used to the courts and the place. Each court is slightly different. All the five players have been adjusting to the pace and bounce. We have been playing a lot of singles and doubles. So, the girls are sharp,’’ said the coach of the team, Ankita Bhambri.
“We practiced on the match courts also. Every day, we have been playing for about four hours in two sessions. Then, the girls do their rehab. The girls are training sincerely and I am happy with their progress,’’ said Vishaal.
Ankita Raina, who had beaten Yulia Putintseva, the leading Kazakh, in the tie last year in Delhi, expressed confidence. “The practice has been good and intense,’’ she said. Figuring in the three-team group, India will be watching the host take on Thailand on Wednesday.
The toppers of two groups will play each other to decide the team qualifying for the World Group 2 play-off.
