Sanam Singh showed the courtesy of giving one game to the fragile Nepal team, but Yuki Bhambri, Saketh Myneni and Divij Sharan were ruthless as India cruised to a 3-0 victory in the pre-quarterfinals of men’s tennis at the Yeorumul Stadium on Sunday.
On a cloudy day, when the courts played slower, it was a challenge for the Indian team to adjust to the conditions, and use the opportunity of playing Nepal as a good warm-up for the tough challenge ahead against Kazakhstan.
With typhoon forecast over the next few days, the supervisor Nitin Kannamwar was actually toying with the idea of changing the team competition finals to the next day.
Of course, it will be the quarterfinals on the morrow that would occupy the mind of the Indian men’s team, which had won the bronze medal in the last edition.
The top-seeded Kazakhstan had a relatively better match against Hong Kong as Aleksandr Nedovyesov and Mikhail Kukushkin dropped eight games between them in winning the two singles and the mandatory doubles matches.
Kazakhstan’s leading player Andrey Golubev may be on duty on the morrow, but the Indian camp was confident of putting up a good fight.
Quite strong
Both Sanam Singh and Yuki Bhambri have been playing quite strong in the last few weeks, and it should not be beyond them to take the contest into the doubles. Saketh and Divij played the doubles on Sunday, but India has many options, to tackle any situation.
Coach Zeeshan Ali who has been playing the role of the captain in the absence of Anand Amritraj, has the experience of being part of teams in the 1990s that won the team gold apart from a bronze.
If Indian players believe in their ability and make a sincere effort, it will not be beyond them to upset Kazakhstan.
Even though the Indian women would also be playing Kazakhstan on the adjacent court, it may not be a similar challenge for Ankita Raina and company.
Formidable
Yaroslava Shvedova may be formidable, but Prarthana Thombare should be able to make it a lively match in the first singles if she plays with the same intensity and fighting spirit that she often shows on the professional circuit.
Sania Mirza, scheduled to play the individual events, was expected to join the team on Sunday evening, after her doubles triumph in Tokyo. Her presence could be an encouraging factor for the team.
In a draw of 16, the Indian girls did not have a match on Sunday, as they had beaten Oman earlier. Facing the second-seeded team should bring out the best from the Indian girls, who have been aspiring to make a mark, if not follow the footprints of Sania.
The results : Men (pre-quarterfinals): India bt Nepal 3-0 (Sanam Singh bt Abhishek Bastola 6-0, 6-1; Yuki Bhambri bt Jeetendra Pariyar 6-0, 6-0; Saketh Myneni and Divij Sharan bt Santosh Khatri and Dawa Sonam Sherpa 6-0, 6-0).