Juniors serve an Indian treat at Bangkok

While Bhusari finished runner-up in the first (Tour I), he won the second (Tour II), collecting a total of 500 (200 plus 300) circuit points. Sane won the first but finished seventh in the second for a total of 370 points. Jack Hui of Hong Kong was third (290).

“He was the most improved player at the end of the tour,” said team coach Mayur Vasant of Bhusari, while speaking to The Indian Express today.

“Everyone was wary of playing him. What was taking three sets to win in the beginning, took only two by the second week.”

Lakhani wassecond in Tour I and third in Tour II for a total of 350 points. Su Wei Hsieh of Chinese Taipei topped both the tours (600 points) while M Tangphong (Thailand) was third (320).

ITF is likely to send a team of boys and girls, based on the performance in these two Tours, to Europe for a five-week, five-tournament trip in June-July. The team, probably of four boys and girls each, will be wholly sponsored by the ITF.

An Indian team of four boys and girls had earlier participated in the South East Asian tournament in Colombo. Ten were selected, including the three Indians, for the Bangkok event.

JAKARTA BOUND: An Indian under-14 team is leaving for Jakarta to participate in the World Junior Competition for the under-14 Asia/Oceania qualifying rounds starting May 3. The team event will comprise two singles and one doubles matches played round robin. The winners from each of the four groups will form the semi-final line-up.

Four teams will qualify for the World Group from here.

The teams will undergo athree-day conditioning camp at New Delhi and leave for Jakarta on May 1.

Teams — Boys: Vikrant Sane, R Arun Prakash, Chatwinder Singh. Captain: Prof T D Francis. Girls: Isha Lakhani, Sasha Abraham, Sania Mirza.
Captain: Dr A B Prasad.
Coach: Mayur Vasant.