The Hindu : Sport / Tennis : India poised to top group

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Wednesday, Apr 30, 2008
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Sport - Tennis

India poised to top group

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Yuki Bhambri and Saurabh Singh continued with their good work as India outplayed Pakistan 3-0 in the Asia-Oceania Junior Davis Cup under-16 tennis tournament at the DLTA Complex here on Tuesday.

The wiry Saurabh made Samir Iftikhar of Pakistan look a novice in racing away with the first singles in 48 minutes, dropping just a game each in the two sets.

Thereafter, World No. 5 junior Bhambri toyed with the left-handed Heera Ashiq, blanking him in the first set in 23 minutes. However, the Indian lad blew a 4-1 lead in the second, though he eventually stepped it up and won it 6-4.

Both Bhambri and Saurabh had blanked the Singaporeans in the singles on the opening day.

Keeping in mind the tough contests ahead, captain Kawaljeet Singh made sure that Bhambri and Saurabh played the doubles together. The two responded nicely against Pakistan, dropping just two games.

On Wednesday, India will play Thailand in the last Group III league encounter to try and top the group.

The results: Group I: Australia beat Uzbekistan 3-0; Chinese Taipei beat Kazakhstan 3-0. \Group II: New Zealand beat Malaysia 3-0; Philippines beat Hong Kong 2-1. Group III: India beat Pakistan 3-0 (Saurabh Singh bt Samir Iftikhar 6-1, 6-1; Yuki Bhambri bt Heera Ashiq 6-0, 6-4; Yuki Bhambri and Saurabh Singh bt Heera Ashiq and Faizan Khurram 6-2, 6-0); Thailand beat Singapore 3-0. Group IV: Japan beat Indonesia 3-0; China beat Korea 2-1.