India lose 3-0 to Chinese Taipei, fail to reach World Gp play-off

Christchurch, Apr 20 (UNI) India's hopes of advancing to World Group play-off in Federation Cup fizzled out with a 3-0 loss to higher-rated Chinese Taipei in their final Group B tie of the Asia-Oceania Zone Group I qualifiers here today.

India eves had beaten Kazakhstan, Jordan and New Zealand in their earlier three round robin ties, but succumbed to their Chinese Taipei opponents, all of them losing in staright sets.

India had missed out on a spot in the World Group II play-off of the women's world tennis team competition last year when they lost to Australia in the final of the same tournament in Seoul.

Shikha Uberoi was outplayed 6-3, 6-2 by Chin-Wei Chan and India soon slumped to 0-2 with Su-Wei Hsieh drubbing Sunitha Rao 6-3, 6-2 before Ankita Bhambri and Tara Iyer pair surrendered to Wen-Hsin Hsu and I-Hsuan Hawang 6-4, 6-0.

India will now play Group A runners-up Uzbekistan for third-fourth play off tomorrow, while Chinese Taipei will take on Group B winners Thailand the same day to decide who will go for World Group II play-off in July.

UNI