India set to host six-nation tournament in New Delhi from April 7–11
Punjab Newsline,Sports:
Former tennis star Sania Mirza has extended her best wishes to the Indian women’s team ahead of the upcoming Billie Jean King Cup Asia/Oceania Group I event, urging players to compete with pride and give their “100 per cent effort” while representing the country.
India will host the prestigious tournament at the DLTA Stadium in New Delhi from April 7 to 11. In a motivational message shared ahead of the competition, Mirza encouraged the squad to embrace the honour of playing for the nation and perform to the best of their abilities.
The Indian team for the tournament includes Ankita Raina, Sahaja Yamalapalli, Vaishnavi Adkar, Shrivalli Bhamidipaty, Rutuja Bhosale, and Vaidehee Chaudhari. The competition, often regarded as the World Cup of women’s tennis, will feature six teams competing in a round-robin format, with the top two sides advancing to the play-offs scheduled for November 2026.
Alongside host India, teams from Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, Mongolia, New Zealand, and Thailand will participate in the Asia/Oceania Group I ties. India enters the tournament with confidence after a strong showing in last year’s qualifiers, where they secured multiple 2–1 victories against key opponents.
With a place in the play-offs at stake, the Indian team will aim for a top-two finish to keep its hopes alive of returning to the World Group. The event forms part of the fourth tier of the global Billie Jean King Cup structure, with similar competitions being held across other regions during the same period