India canter in Fed Cup opener

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April 20, 2005 20:54 IST

India kicked-off their Fed Cup campaign in style as they drubbed rank outsiders Singapore 3-0 in the Asia Oceania zone group 1 tie at the R K Khanna stadium in Delhi on Wednesday.

Shikha Uberoi celebrated her debut in the women's tennis competition under the Indian tricolour with a 6-0, 6-0 blanking of Yun-Ling Ng after Ankita Bhambri had put the hosts ahead, beating Wei Ping Lee 6-1, 7-5.

Shikha then combined with Rushmi Chakravarthi to pocket the doubles, winning 6-1, 6-1 against Ng and Shao Fang Ong.

The Singapore girls, primarily junior players, proved a mismatch.

But the Indian camp was a happy bunch, particularly for the US-based Shikha who became eligible to represent her native country only recently.

"Great, I couldn't have asked for more," 21-year old Shikha said. "When I stepped on the court, everything faded."

The Florida resident, however, made as many as seven double-faults, an indication of how emotions can spoil one's game.

Luckily for her, Ng, only 16 years of age and a junior, ranking outside the thousand, did not pose many problems.

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