Sania Mirza sends a strong message to India’s women’s tennis team ahead of the Billie Jean King Cup Asia/Oceania Group I event in New Delhi starting April 7.
Sania Mirza sends rallying cry to Indian women's team for BJK Cup Asia/Oceania Group I event/ Credit: Credit: DLTA
As India prepares to host the upcoming Billie Jean King Cup Asia/Oceania Group I event, Indian tennis icon Sania Mirza has urged the women’s team to compete with “great pride” and give their “100 per cent effort.”
The tournament will be held at the DLTA Stadium from April 7 to 11, with the Indian team looking to make the most of home advantage.
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Ahead of the opener, Mirza shared a heartfelt message for the squad:
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“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. I hope all you girls do well, give your best, give your 100 per cent and bring it home. We’re all rooting for you.”
The Indian contingent features Ankita Raina, Sahaja Yamalapalli, Vaishnavi Adkar, Shrivalli Bhamidipaty, Rutuja Bhosale, and Vaidehee Chaudhari, a mix of experience and emerging talent.
Often described as the World Cup of women’s tennis, the Billie Jean King Cup will see six teams compete in a round-robin format. The top two sides will qualify for the play-offs scheduled in November 2026.
Alongside hosts India, the Asia/Oceania Group I field includes Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, Mongolia, New Zealand, and Thailand.
India heads into the tournament with confidence after a strong showing in last year’s Asia/Oceania Group I ties, where they registered 2–1 wins over Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, and the Republic of Korea.
With key rivals returning and new challenges in the mix, India will aim for a top-two finish to keep its World Group ambitions alive.
The Asia/Oceania Group I competition forms part of the fourth tier of the global Billie Jean King Cup structure, with parallel events being held across Europe/Africa and the Americas. A total of seven teams from these regional events will advance to the Play-offs, where they will face the seven losing teams from the Qualifiers.
As the action unfolds over five days in New Delhi, India’s focus will be on delivering consistent performances and taking a decisive step towards returning to the World Group.
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