Thai Hopeful of Beating India
Play
Thailand’s captain Pracharapol Khamsaman says the team has what it takes to win the opening tie against India in the Fed Cup Zone Asia/Oceania Qualifying Group I, which starts tomorrow at the True Arena Hua Hin.
Thailand and India are in Pool A along with top seed Japan and Uzbekistan while Pool B consists of second seed China, Taiwan, Kazakhstan and South Korea. The winners of each pool will compete for a slot into the World Group I Playoff in April.
Pracharapol is determined to guide his team to a winning start against India by winning both the singles matches and avoid a decisive doubles rubber where world doubles No 1 and newlycrowned Australian Open champion Sania Mirza will likely play for India.
“It won’t be a good idea to go into the deciding doubles against India which has a top player such as Mirza. She just won the Australian Open dou¬bles title with Martina Hingis. So we hope that our No 1 player Luksika Kumkhum and our No 2 player will finish the job by winning the singles,” said Pracharapol.
Apart from world No 149 Luksika, Thailand have in their ranks Peangtarn Plipuech, No 363, Kamonwan Buayam, No 407 and Bunyawi Thamchaiwat, No 629. India are rep¬resented by Ankita Raina, No 307, Prerna Bhambri, No 399, and Prarthana Thombare, ranked outside the top 500.
The two team will face off at 10am tomorrow. Thailand will then play Uzbekistan and Japan on Thursday and Friday respectively.
