Date:06/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/06/stories/2008030655702200.htm

Sport - Tennis

Sunitha Rao in main draw

NEW DELHI: Sunitha Rao is the only Indian to be given direct entry into the main draw of the $50,000 ITF women’s tennis tournament to be played at the DLTA Complex here from March 10.

Isha Lakhani, Rushmi Chakravarthi, Ankita Bhambri and Shikha Uberoi have been given wild cards.

Sanaa Bhambri, Parija Maloo, Parul Goswami, Prerna Mythri, Poojashree Venkatesh along with Sabina Kovpunova of Uzbekistan have been given wild cards for the qualifiers.

Asian champion Iroda Tulyaganova of Uzbekistan figures in the qualifying event, as she is languishing at 309 in the ranking list.

Sanda Mamic of Croatia is expected to be the top seed, while Mathilde Johansson of France, Andreja Klepac of Slovenia, Vesna Manasieva of Russia, Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium, Junri Namigata of Japan and Margit Ruutel of Estonia are some of the leading players expected to take part.