Sania Mirza sends rallying cry to Indian women's team for BJK Cup Asia/Oceania Group I event
New Delhi, April 5
As the Indian women's tennis team is set to carry the national flag at the upcoming Billie Jean King Cup Asia/Oceania Group I event, women's tennis trailblazer Sania Mirza has called on the squad to play with "greatest pride" and "100 per cent effort."
India is hosting the 2026 Billie Jean King Cup (BJKC) Asia/Oceania Group I event, which will be held at the DLTA Stadium in New Delhi from April 7 to 11. Ahead of the tournament opener, Sania shared a message of support for the contingent.
The Indian team comprises Ankita Raina, Sahaja Yamalapalli, Vaishnavi Adkar, Shrivalli Bhamidipaty, Rutuja Bhosale, and Vaidehee Chaudhari.
"Hi everyone, here's wishing the Billie Jean King Cup Indian team all the very best. The tournament starts in a couple of days and it's the greatest pride, greatest honour to represent our amazing country and I hope all you girls do well, give your best, give your 100% and bring it home. We're all rooting for you," the three-time Grand Slam champion said.
Often referred to as the World Cup of women's tennis, the tournament will see six nations compete in a round-robin format, with the top two teams earning promotion to the Billie Jean King Cup Play-offs scheduled for November 2026.
Apart from host India, the other participating teams in the Asia/Oceania Group I ties are Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, Mongolia, New Zealand, and Thailand.
India entered the competition looking to build momentum, having delivered impressive results at last year's Billie Jean King Cup Asia & Oceania Group I Qualifiers, where they secured 2-1 victories over Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, and the Republic of Korea.
With New Zealand, Indonesia, and Mongolia also in the fray this year, India will be aiming for a top-two finish to keep its World Group ambitions alive.
As the team builds toward the qualifiers, the focus remains firmly on performance and taking a decisive step toward returning to the World Group for the third time.
The Asia/Oceania Group I event is part of the fourth tier of the Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge, with Regional Group I competitions taking place simultaneously across Europe/Africa and the Americas during the same week.
A total of seven teams from the Regional Group I events worldwide will progress to the play-offs, where they will face the seven losing teams from the Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers. The tournament will follow a single round-robin format, with all teams facing each other over the five-day competition.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Fantastic to see this level of support from a legend. Hosting the event is a big deal. Hope the home crowd gives them that extra boost. The team did well last year, beating Korea and Thailand. Top two finish is a must! 💪
So proud to see women's tennis getting this platform. Sania Mirza is an inspiration for every young girl with a racquet. Let's hope this tournament sparks more interest and investment in the sport at the grassroots level across India.
Watching from Australia. The BJK Cup is a fantastic competition. India has a real chance here, especially with home advantage. New Zealand will be tough, but the momentum is with the hosts. Best of luck to all the teams!
The squad looks promising, but we need consistent performances. No disrespect to the players who work incredibly hard, but where is the next Sania? The system needs to produce more champions, not just participants. Still, josh high for this week! 🎾
Representing the country is the biggest honour. Sania di is absolutely right. Let's flood social media with support for Ankita Raina, Sahaja, and the whole team! Delhi, please go and cheer for them. #GirlPower
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