Date:15/02/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/02/15/stories/2008021555502000.htm

Sport - Tennis

Pat for Prakash

KOLKATA: Mahesh Bhupathi has said that Indian team has the requisite talent to find a place in the World Group. The tennis ace, who was here to work out the details of a proposed academy, praised Prakash Amritraj for his efforts that saw India beat Uzbekistan 3-2 in the first round of the Asia-Oceania zone group matches.

Addressing newspersons he said, “India has a big chance of moving to the World group if we play well.”

India next plays Japan in April in the decisive round of Asia-Oceania group-I. A win here would put the country in the play-offs of the World Group.

“I am a great believer in Prakash’s ability. He can really do well in the coming days,” Bhupathi said hinting at Prakash Amritraj’s win against Farrukh Dustov in the deciding match against Uzbekistan.

Bhupathi said Sania Mirza, who is managed by the company owned by him, opted out of the upcoming Bangalore Open because “she is not fully fit and mentally fatigued.”

He said Sania needed the break in order to recover from the controversies.

“She has around six more years of tennis left in her and so skipping a tournament in the country one year will not make a big difference,” he added. — Principal Correspondent