Fed Cup: India finishes fourth after losing to Korea

Ankita Raina played strong but India slipped to a 1-2 defeat to Korea in the match for the third place in the Fed Cup Asia Oceania group-1 women’s tennis tournament in Astana, Kazakhstan, on Saturday.

Ankita Raina won her singles match in the third place tie against Korea in the Fed Cup Asia-Oceania tennis tournament in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Ankita Raina played strong but India slipped to a 1-2 defeat to Korea in the match for the third place in the Fed Cup Asia Oceania group-1 women’s tennis tournament in Astana, Kazakhstan, on Saturday.

India’s aspirations to at least finish third among the seven teams suffered a severe jolt as Karman Kaur Thandi could not play, owing to a leg injury.

Two-time national champion Mahak Jain did fight for three sets in the first singles, and Ankita equalised by winning her singles easily at 6-3, 6-3.

However, in the decisive doubles the Koreans beat Ankita and Prarthana Thombare 6-4, 6-4.

“We could have won the tie,’’ said captain Vishaal Uppal, quite satisfied by the fighting performance by the team.

Host Kazakhstan won the competition, beating China 2-1 in the final, and qualified for World Group-2 play-off.

Indonesia beat Thailand 2-1 and pushed it to group-2 in the relegation play off between the two third placed teams in the two groups. Pacific

Oceania had already been relegated to group-2 as it had finished fourth in the four-team group.

The results (third place): Korea bt India 2-1 (Kim Na Ri bt Mahak Jain 6-2, 3-6, 6-1; Jeong Sunam lost to Ankita Raina 3-6, 3-6; Kim Na Ri & Jang Su Jeong bt Ankita Raina & Prarthana Thombare 6-4, 6-4).