Vishal Uppal takes half in a coaching session on the DLTA Stadium.
| Photograph Credit score: Particular Association
The Indian girls’s tennis workforce is hoping to make it to the playoffs of the Billie Jean King Cup for the second 12 months operating and captain Vishal Uppal is assured that the workforce has sufficient depth to take action.
“Some might imagine taking part in at residence as stress, I take a look at it as a possibility to point out your expertise. It’s about preparing bodily and mentally and concentrate on what we’ve to execute,” Uppal instructed The Hindu because the gamers sweated it out on the DLTA Stadium right here on the second day of their preparations on Friday.
4 of the six members of the workforce — Ankita Raina, Sahaja Yamalapalli, Shrivalli Bhamidipaty and Vaidehee Chaudhari — are the identical as final 12 months. Vaishnavi Adkar and Rutuja Bhosale being the brand new additions as they’ve are available for Prarthana Thombare and Maaya Rajeshwaran.
Uppal is obvious on his ladies’ preparations. “Exhausting working, dedicated and hungry to do one thing for India,” he summed up earlier than elaborating. “The workforce’s shaping up good, everybody’s hitting the ball nicely, we simply should make it possible for we will execute the methods we make.
“Ankita brings in a whole lot of expertise for the workforce, as does Rutuja, they’ve been across the block for some time and that actually issues. Sahaja’s been on the workforce for a couple of years now and it’s an incredible alternative for her to step up and carry out to the perfect of her skills. Vaishnavi has had a breakthrough 12 months to date. Shrivalli’s had a little bit of an up and down run however hopefully she’ll be wholesome and Vaidehi has additionally completed nicely,” he defined.
The BJK Cup comes with its personal workforce dynamics and Uppal admits each the motivation and stress are very totally different. “There’s a unique stress that comes with representing your nation, there are individuals supporting you, it’s extra comforting and ladies really need emotional help after they’re in a decent scenario.
“Let’s be sincere, nobody actually cares for those who’re 400 on the planet however they do for those who play and win for India. Clearly we wish to make it possible for we’ve extra gamers on the Grand Slam degree. Our final aim is to get to the elite 8-16 however we’ve a whole lot of constructing blocks to get via earlier than that,” he stated.
The Asia/Oceania Group I competitors might be held from April 7-11 with New Zealand, together with Indonesia, anticipated to be the hardest problem for the Indians.
Printed – April 03, 2026 06:07 pm IST
