KARACHI:
Pakistan’s Fed Cup squad finished a dismal eighth in the 10-team Asia/Oceania zone group II campaign after a 2-1 play-off loss against Oman yesterday.
Pakistan were placed in Pool A with Kyrgyzstan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Sri Lanka where they only managed to beat Singapore in the second match they played.
In their last match of the event, Pakistan’s top-ranked player Ushna Suhail gave her side a winning start yet again, outclassing Sarah alBalushi 6-0, 6-0. However, Oman came roaring back into the tie with Saba Aziz losing 6-0, 6-2 to Fatma alNabhani.
The deciding doubles encounter was then won by Oman 6-2, 7-6 forcing Pakistan’s ranking in the group to go down from sixth to eighth.
“Tennis is growing fast in all the participating countries except Pakistan,” coach Khalid Siddiq told The Express Tribune. “There are various International Tennis Federation events taking place in these countries but nothing happens in Pakistan. It affects our performance in the Fed Cup.”
In other matches, India beat Hong Kong 2-1 to earn promotion to Asia/Oceania group I. Philippines outplayed Kyrgyzstan 2-1 in the third-place play-off.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 5th, 2012.
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