The Indian Fed Cup team is up against a mountain as it were in the Asia-Oceania Group I competition to be held in Nonthaburi, Thailand from February 2 to 5.
India's front runner Sania Mirza, who hit the National Tennis Centre early on Sunday in order to prepare and acclimatize, strained her hamstring and is down with fever, adding to the team's woes. The 24-year-old Hyderabadi, however, will not shirk from national duty as she battles to be fit for the tournament.
India is grouped in Pool A along with the Na Li-led China, Akgul Amanmuradova's Uzbekistan and Tamarine Tanasugarn's Thailand. Pool B is comparatively lighter with Japan, Korea, Kazakhstan and Chinese Taipei. The format of the competition with the number two players clashing first, followed by the number ones, is not going to make things easier for the Indians.
Sania, 24, who has climbed to No. 135 in the rankings this week, was candid about India's chances. "It is going to be extremely tough for us since we are grouped with top teams like China, Uzbekistan and Thailand."
The fact that India doesn't have a solid enough second singles player unlike China and Thailand were both -- Jing-Jing Lu and Noppawan Lertcheewakarn -- are ranked in the top-200, could work against them. India No.2 Poojashree Venkatesh, 20-years of age, is ranked 534 while the other two members -- Rushmi Chakravarthi and Ashvarya Shrivastava -- are ranked 574 and 806 respectively.
If Li, the new world no.7 and Australian Open finalist, weighed down by her campaign in Melbourne, pulls out of the competition, it may open up the field.
Sania said, "My wrist is feeling fine, but I've had a few niggles, my hamstring is bothering me. Also, I have a slight fever, but hopefully I should be fine by the time the matches get under way on Wednesday. I'm looking forward to the competition."
Sania, who tested former World No.1 Justine Henin in the first round in Melbourne after coming through the qualifiers, put down the gains of the first Grand Slam of the season to 'confidence'. The Hyderabadi said, "It was a good tournament for me. I gained the confidence of winning three good matches on the trot and also the knowledge that I can still compete with the likes of Henin."
After the Fed Cup the Indian will train her sights on the Tour where she is scheduled to play in Pattaya, Dubai, Doha and Kuala Lumpur. Sania has sacrificed a great number of weeks on the Tour to do national duty -- Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and now Fed Cup -- which significantly doubles her workload in the coming weeks.
India's front runner Sania Mirza, who hit the National Tennis Centre early on Sunday in order to prepare and acclimatize, strained her hamstring and is down with fever, adding to the team's woes. The 24-year-old Hyderabadi, however, will not shirk from national duty as she battles to be fit for the tournament.
India is grouped in Pool A along with the Na Li-led China, Akgul Amanmuradova's Uzbekistan and Tamarine Tanasugarn's Thailand. Pool B is comparatively lighter with Japan, Korea, Kazakhstan and Chinese Taipei. The format of the competition with the number two players clashing first, followed by the number ones, is not going to make things easier for the Indians.
Sania, 24, who has climbed to No. 135 in the rankings this week, was candid about India's chances. "It is going to be extremely tough for us since we are grouped with top teams like China, Uzbekistan and Thailand."
The fact that India doesn't have a solid enough second singles player unlike China and Thailand were both -- Jing-Jing Lu and Noppawan Lertcheewakarn -- are ranked in the top-200, could work against them. India No.2 Poojashree Venkatesh, 20-years of age, is ranked 534 while the other two members -- Rushmi Chakravarthi and Ashvarya Shrivastava -- are ranked 574 and 806 respectively.
If Li, the new world no.7 and Australian Open finalist, weighed down by her campaign in Melbourne, pulls out of the competition, it may open up the field.
Sania said, "My wrist is feeling fine, but I've had a few niggles, my hamstring is bothering me. Also, I have a slight fever, but hopefully I should be fine by the time the matches get under way on Wednesday. I'm looking forward to the competition."
Sania, who tested former World No.1 Justine Henin in the first round in Melbourne after coming through the qualifiers, put down the gains of the first Grand Slam of the season to 'confidence'. The Hyderabadi said, "It was a good tournament for me. I gained the confidence of winning three good matches on the trot and also the knowledge that I can still compete with the likes of Henin."
After the Fed Cup the Indian will train her sights on the Tour where she is scheduled to play in Pattaya, Dubai, Doha and Kuala Lumpur. Sania has sacrificed a great number of weeks on the Tour to do national duty -- Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and now Fed Cup -- which significantly doubles her workload in the coming weeks.
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