Indian tennis legend Sania Mirza has sent a rallying message to the women’s team ahead of the Billie Jean King Cup Asia/Oceania Group I event, urging them to play with “greatest pride” and “100 per cent effort.”
India will host the prestigious tournament at the DLTA Stadium in New Delhi from April 7 to 11, 2026. The squad includes Ankita Raina, Sahaja Yamalapalli, Vaishnavi Adkar, Shrivalli Bhamidipaty, Rutuja Bhosale, and Vaidehee Chaudhari.
Mirza, a three-time Grand Slam champion, expressed her support in a video message. She said representing the country is the highest honour and encouraged the players to give their best and bring glory to India. Her words have boosted morale as the team prepares for a challenging round-robin competition.
Often called the World Cup of women’s tennis, the Billie Jean King Cup will feature six nations in the Asia/Oceania Group I ties: India, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, Mongolia, New Zealand, and Thailand. The top two teams will advance to the play-offs scheduled for November 2026.
India enters the tournament with momentum, having secured victories against Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, and Korea in last year’s qualifiers. With strong performances expected, the team aims for a top-two finish to keep its World Group ambitions alive.
