Tennis ace Sania Mirza will lead a four-member Indian team in the competition of the Federation Cup Group II Asia / Oceania to be held on hard courts SAAP Tennis Complex in Hyderabad from April 14-18.
Sania will lead a four-member team also includes top singles player India Ankita Raina, Prarthana Thombare and Natasha Palha.
There are also three reserve players in the team – Rishika Sunkara, Nidhi Chilumula and junior national champion Karman Kaur Thandi.
“Sania is also considering playing singles to ensure that India advances to Group I of the Asia / Oceania Zone,” a statement from AITA.
The team will meet in Hyderabad 10 days before the tie and will undergo a training camp in Sania Mirza Tennis Academy.
“Sania is also considering playing singles to ensure that India advances to Group I / Oceania Zone Asia. The team will meet in Hyderabad 10 days before the tie and will undergo a training camp in the Tennis Academy Sania Mirza “AITA secretary general Bharat Oza said.
India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Oman, Pacific Oceania, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Turkmenistan are divided into three groups of three teams each and one group of four teams in a round robin format in the tournament.
With two silver medals to his credit in the National Games in Kerala recently celebrated, Nidhi is delighted today how his game has shaped up after joining the Tennis Academy Sania Mirza (ANTM) in December 2013. “This is a great honor. Furthermore because I will play under someone whom I encouraged as a 10 year old from the stands when Sania won her first WTA singles title in 2005 at LB Stadium,” she said.
“Participating in the SMTA and train with Sania is a very important learning curve in my career. She has given me many invaluable advice” recalls Nidhi.
“I am grateful to the parents of Sania – Imran and Nasima for their support,” he said. “Interactions with consultant WTA Tour, Christian Filhol and (trainer and former Australian Olympic) Robert Ballard helped me reach my highest ranking of 581 WTA singles and 428 in doubles.”
At this time, plans include playing this young champion 24-30 ITF tournaments in different countries in the coming year.
“I want to get into the top five in the country and then chase the biggest dream of playing a Grand Slam, which is possible if it could be in the below-200 ranking WTA” said Nidhi.
Seeking support
B.Com graduate of Keshav Memorial College, Nidhi is seeking corporate support. “It will be helpful if you support my training programs,” he said.
