India beat Korea 2:1 in Fed Cup, jumps to second in league standings

Sania Mirza and Ankita Raina seal the deal for India in doubles rubber

Team India’s most experienced players at the Fed Cup Asia/Oceania Group I tournament, Sania Mirza and Ankita Raina, won the deciding rubber against Korea to lift India to second place in the round-robin league standings at the end of day three.

Mirza, ranked 222^nd in doubles and Raina (119) took the courts as a pair for the first time in the on-going tournament, as the tie was evenly poised at 1:1 after India and Korea won a singles rubber each courtesy Rutuja Bhosale and Na-Lae Han, respectively.

Mirza-Raina used all their experience and managed a comfortable straight sets win 6-4, 6-4 against Na-Lae Han (world no 174 in doubles) and Na Ri Kim (441).

Earlier in the match, Indian skipper Vishal Uppal entrusted Rutuja Bhosale and Ankita Raina for the two singles rubbers for the third time in as many outings of the Indian team.

23-year-old Bhosale, playing in India colours for the third time in Fed Cup (previously in 2012 and 2013), rose to the occasion and won a point for India as she defeated Su Jeong Jang 7-5, 6-4. This win comes a day after Bhosale earned the maiden point of the competition for India in a three hour long battle with Akgul Amanmuradova of Uzbekistan on day two.

In the second singles rubber, Ahmedabad born Raina suffered her second defeat of the tournament by the hands of Na-Lae Han 4-6, 0-6.

Today, India will be facing Chinese Taipei.

Top two nations from the group of six will advance to the Play-Offs to be played on 17-18 April.

(Round-robin League Standings below)