India bag crucial win against Hong Kong, China at Billie Jean King Cup Asia-Oceania Group 1

PUNE: The Indian team carried on their winning run at the Billie Jean King Cup Asia-Oceania Group 1, delivering a strong performance to secure a 2-1 victory against Hong Kong, China, here on Thursday evening. The tournament, organized by MSLTA in association with ITF, AITA, and PMDTA, is taking place at the Mahalunge Balewadi Tennis Complex in Pune, as per a release from Billie Jean King Cup.

India got off to the ideal start on day three, courtesy of Vaidehi Chaudhari’s splendid performance against Ho Ching Wu in the Indian’s first game of the tournament. The youngster, hailing from Ahmedabad, fought tooth and nail in a tightly contested first set, winning the tiebreak 10-8.

She wasted no time imposed herself in the second set, eventually securing a 7-6 (10-8), 6-1 victory in 2 hours and 3 minutes to give India a 1-0 lead in the tie against Hong Kong, China.

Team India is Making Waves at the BJK Cup!
The tricolour is flying high at Mhalunge-Balewadi Stadium as our girls serve up some serious fire on court #billiejeankingcup #pune pic.twitter.com/ziA9GY5qan

— MSLTA (@msltatennis) April 10, 2025

In the second singles match between the two countries, Shrivalli Bhamidipaty carried on her fabulous run in the tournament, maintaining a perfect record after three matches.

The young Indian star had to dig deep against Hong Yi Cody Wong in a three-set encounter that lasted 2 hours and 27 minutes. Shrivalli bagged the first set in a tiebreak, winning 8-6, before her opponent fought back. However, the Indian had the last laugh with eight aces, securing a crucial 7-6, 2-6, 6-3 victory to give India an unassailable 2-0 lead in the tie.

In their final match of the day, the Indian duo of Ankita Raina and Prarthana Thombare fell short in a hard-fought battle against Eudice Chong and Hong Yi Cody Wong.

The experienced Indian pair secured the first set in a tiebreak before the Hong Kong, China duo fought back in the second set. From there on in, Hong Kong, China had the better of the exchanges, winning the final set and the contest at 7-6, 3-6, 11-13.

The Indian team will play Chinese Taipei in the third match of the Billie Jean King Cup on Thursday. The Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Ministry of Sports and Youth Welfare (Maharashtra) powered the tournament. (ANI)