Pune Hosts Billie Jean King Cup: A Historic Tennis Milestone

For the first time, Pune will host the Billie Jean King Cup Asia-Oceania Group-1, marking a milestone for Indian tennis. The tournament runs from April 8-12 at Balewadi complex. The Indian team, boasting players like Ankita Raina, aims to secure one of the two qualification spots.

In a historic first for Indian tennis, Pune is set to host the esteemed Billie Jean King Cup Asia-Oceania Group-1 tournament. This prestigious event will unfold from April 8 to 12 at the Mhalunge Balewadi Tennis Complex, marking Maharashtra's return as host after a 25-year gap.

According to Sunder Iyer, Honorary Secretary of the Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association (MSLTA), the event marks another milestone following successful tournaments such as the L&T Mumbai Open and the PMRDA MahaOpen. Iyer emphasized the strategic significance of bringing the event to India, providing local female athletes an invaluable opportunity to compete at the highest level.

The tournament will see teams from seven zones, including New Zealand, Chinese Taipei, and Korea, compete in a round-robin format. Led by Ankita Raina and featuring talents like Sahaja Yamalapalli, the Indian team aims to secure a spot for further international competition. Despite the absence of tennis heavyweights like Japan, the Indian squad will face stiff challenges from seasoned players, including New Zealand's Lulu Sun and Thailand's Mananchaya Sawangkaew.

(With inputs from agencies.)