Fed Cup: Rutuja Bhosale, Sania Mirza-Ankita Raina pair keep India's playoffs hopes alive with win over South Korea

Dubai: Rutuja Bhosale’s win in the opening singles proved crucial as India beat Korea 2-1 to stay alive in the race for the playoffs in the Fed Cup, on Thursday. [caption id=“attachment_4335263” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File image of Sania Mirza. Reuters[/caption] Rutuja edged out higher-ranked Su Jeong Jang 7-5 6-4 in the opening singles, to put India ahead 1-0 in the tie. In-form Ankita was expected to seal the match but the gritty Indian lost the second singles rather tamely 4-6, 0-6, to Na-Lae Han. With the tie locked 1-1, India’s most successful woman player Sania Mirza got to play her first match of the competition after four years. Sania and Ankita joined forces to prevail over Na-Ri Kim and Han 6-4 6-4 in one hour and 39 minutes to clinch the tie for India. The victory means that India have now moved to second place in the six-team Asia/Oceania Group I behind China, who are unbeaten in the tournament. The top two teams will qualify for the playoffs. A big test awaits India on Friday when they clash with Chinese Taipei. A victory against them will more or less ensure India’s passage into the playoffs, to be held next month.