India loose again

India complete hattrick of defeats
Perth: An Indian tennis team sans Sania Mirza completed a dubious hat-trick of defeats in Fed Cup following their 0-3 loss to Uzbekistan in the Asia/Oceania Group I round-robin match here today. Consequentially, the eves will now play Chinese Taipei in the relegation play-off tomorrow. With today’s defeat, India finished last in the four-team Pool A, having also lost 0-3 in their earlier two matches -- against New Zealand and Indonesia -- as well. They now take on Chinese Taipei, who ended last in the four-team Pool B. The losing nation will be relegated to the Asia/Oceania Zone Group II in 2010. In the rubber against Uzbekistan, Sanaa Bhambri lost to Albina Khabibulina 1-6, 5-7 before sister Ankita went down 4-6, 4-6 to Akgul Amanmuradova. The Uzbek duo of Vlada Ekshibarova and Alexandra Kolesnichenko then beat Indian pair of Rushmi Chakravarthi and Ankita 6-2, 7-5 to complete the 3-0 rout at State Tennis Center here. The 0-3 rout by Uzbekistan meant that the Indian women, under captain Enrico Piperno, failed to win any rubber in the elite women’s team event. (PTI)