Japan emerge champs

Japan underlined their dominance by beating Thailand 2-0 and winning the Junior Fed Cup Asia-Oceania Final qualifying leg at the Delhi Lawn Tennis Stadium (DLTA) on Saturday.

All the Japanese girls needed was little over two hours to seal the tie. Naho Sato beat Thasaporn Naklo 6-1, 6-1 in the first single before Ayumi Miyamoto settled issue by defeating Watsachol Sawatdee 6-3, 6-1.

India finished third in the leg by beating New Zealand 2-1 in the 3-4th classification matches. The Indian girls’ top four finish in the tournament, however, booked them the spot in Worlds final in Hungary in September.

Mahak Jain breezed past Nina Paripovich 6-1, 6-1 and Sathwika Sama beat Valentina Ivanov 6-4, 2-6, 6-3. Sama and Shivani Ingle, however, lost the dead doubles rubber to Tamara Anderson and Paripovich 2-6, 3-6 to hand one point to New Zealand.

Meanwhile, AITA President Anil Khanna announced a cash award of Rs 5 lakh for the squad.
"This feat of the girls team has come after stupendous show by our junior Davis Cup team. It shows the work we have been doing for the development of junior Indian tennis. I am extremely delighted for their performance and happily announce a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh for the squad working in the right direction as far as junior Indian programme goes," Khanna said.