BENGALURU: When Sania Mirza introduced the curtain down on her enjoying profession in February, time was ripe for the 36-year-old to take over India’s Billie Jean King Cup captaincy.
Royal Challengers Bangalore signed the Hyderabadi on as mentor for Ladies’s Premier League even earlier than she referred to as a cease to her enjoying profession, however the All India Tennis Affiliation (AITA) ignored their most profitable professional of the final 40 years with attribute carelessness. They changed Vishal Uppal as non-playing captain with Shalini Thakur Chawla for the nation’s upcoming marketing campaign.
Sania, a six-time Grand Slam champion, doubles and combined doubles, having spent 91 weeks as No. 1, ending within the top-35 of the WTA singles rankings for 4 straight years (2005-2008), wasn’t thought-about for the captaincy of the aspect she was the lead participant for the higher a part of twenty years, exterior of damage or being pregnant breaks.
Anil Dhupar, AITA secretary, instructed TOI that Sania wasn’t approached for the put up of non-playing captain as a result of ‘we would like her to play’. “She reached the ultimate (combined doubles) in Australia,” he stated. When instructed Sania had the truth is retired, he stated, “Gamers preserve altering their minds on a regular basis. However there will probably be extra alternatives for her.”
Earlier, Suman Kapur, secretary, Haryana Tennis Affiliation, additionally AITA Government Committee member, dashed off a mail to Hironmoy Chatterjee, AITA VP (Sports activities) expressing ‘critical concern’ relating to the alternative of Uppal. Kapur wrote ‘any choice to switch Uppal ought to have been taken after discussions’ within the EC. The strategically leaked mail, a replica of which is with TOI, factors at what’s more and more wanting like an AITA vs AITA battle.
The Indian BJK Cup workforce of Ankita Raina (226), Karman Kaur Thandi (272), Rutuja Bhosale (385), Vaidehi Chaudhari (479) and Sahaja Yamalapalli (484) will depart for the Uzbek capital of Tashkent later within the week for the Group 1 Asia-Oceania contest that sees six groups — China, Korea, Japan and Thailand — being the opposite 4, compete in a single group with two nations going by to the playoffs in November.
With Thakur as captain, Radhika Tulpule Kanitkar (coach) and Ajeeta Goel (physio), the depend of assist employees for the workforce is three.
If a participant isn’t scheduled to take the courtroom, the physio can attend to her solely on the finish of the day.
The Indian Davis Cup workforce, which by the way doesn’t have a participant within the top-350 of the rankings, travels as any skilled outfit ought to — two physios, a health care provider (has accompanied the aspect), a captain, coach and supervisor. A few probables even to assist the workforce put together.
Had AITA consulted with Sania, a four-time Olympian who has her fingers full, however hasn’t stated ‘no’ for India or tennis, she would have demanded higher for the workforce.