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Journalism of Courage
India’s campaign at the Fed Cup turned worst as it was relegated to Group II of the Asia/Oceania Zone after losing the play-off tie 1-2 to Chinese Taipei here on Saturday.
Last year,India had competed in the bottom division but had won all three ties — against Singapore,Malaysia and Kyrgyzstan — without losing a rubber to gain promotion.
India,however,failed to keep its place in Group I this time and will strive yet again in 2012 to earn promotion.
Sania Mirza,who won two of her three singles matches despite a hamstring problem,did not take field on Saturday and both Ashvarya Srivastava and Poojashree Venkatesha lost their singles matches.
Ashvarya lost 3-6 3-6 Ting-Fei Juan in the opening singles and then Poojashree went down fighting 5-7 1-6 against Chin-Wei Chan.
The pair of Srivastava and Rushmi Chakravathi combined to win the inconsequential doubles rubber 1-6 6-3 7-6 (5) against Juan and Yui-Lynn Miao at National Tennis Centre.
India had lost to China,Uzbekistan and Thailand at the Group stage and finished at the bottom in four-team Pool A.
India’s best Fed Cup performance came in 2006,when it ended as runners-up in Asia/Oceania Zone Group I.
