Pune
Pune will host the Billie Jean King Cup Asia-Oceania Group-1 tournament for the first time, marking a historic moment for Indian tennis. The event, set for April 8-12 at Mhalunge Balewadi Tennis Complex, will be Maharashtra’s first time hosting since 2000.
Six teams—New Zealand, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Korea, Thailand, and India—will compete in a round-robin format, with each tie featuring two singles and one doubles match. India, led by Ankita Raina, will aim for one of two available qualification spots. The squad includes Sahaja Yamalapalli, Shrivalli Bhamidipaty, Vaidehi Chaudhari, and doubles specialist Prarthana Thombare.
Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association (MSLTA) secretary Sunder Iyer expressed excitement about hosting the event. “After the success of Mumbai Open WTA and Maha Open ATP Challenger, we are thrilled to bring another top-level event,” he said.
Despite missing heavyweights like Japan, China, and Kazakhstan, India faces tough competition. New Zealand’s Lulu Sun (ranked 44th) leads her team, while Thailand features top-200 players Mananchaya Sawangkaew and Lanlana Tararudee. Chinese Taipei, Korea, and Hong Kong also field competitive squads.
With home advantage and strong team chemistry, India will look to capitalize on the opportunity and advance to the next stage of the tournament.
