Billie Jean King Cup: India finish fourth, remain in Group I

Tashkent [Uzbekistan], April 16 : The Indian women's team lost its final Billie Jean King Cup 2023 Asia/Ocea Group I tie to South Korea by 2-1 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on Saturday.

Despite the defeat, India, with two wins in five ties, finished fourth in Group I Pool A, avoiding a drop to the Asia/Ocea Group II for next season.

The top two teams from Asia/Ocea Group I advanced to the play-off stage, while the fifth and sixth-placed teams were relegated to Group II. The third and fourth-ranked teams remained in Group I.

Uzbekistan and Thailand were demoted, while Japan and China were promoted. Uzbekistan failed to win a single tie throughout the tournament, whereas Thailand, like India, managed two victories.

The Indian team, however, finished above Thailand on the table, having beaten them 2-1 in their head-to-head fixture earlier this week, Korea finished second with three wins and two losses.

Vaidehi Chaudhari of India, who is ranked 479th in the WTA singles rankings, against Korea. The 23-year-old Indian tennis player won the first set against Dabin Kim, but the Korean rallied to win the match 6-2, 4-6, 4-6 in 2 hours and 43 minutes.

In the second match, Rutuja Bhosale defeated Yeon Woo Ku 7-5, 2-6, 6-2 to tie the score at 1-1.

In the crucial deciding doubles match, Ankita Raina teamed up with Rutuja Bhosale to face the Korean duo of Ji Hee Choi and Dabin Kim.

However, Ankita Raina and Rutuja Bhosale's efforts fell short as the Indian duo lost 4-6, 6-2, 3-6.

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