New Delhi, April 6 (NationPress) The Indian squad is set to kick off its journey in the Billie Jean King Cup Asia/Oceania Group I tournament against Thailand at the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association (DLTA) Stadium this Tuesday. Captain Vishal Uppal conveyed his optimism regarding the team's preparations and their eagerness to showcase their skills before a home audience.

“We are accustomed to significantly hotter conditions in April in Delhi. However, the weather is beyond our control. What we can manage are our practice sessions, and they've been quite productive. I genuinely believe the team is poised to deliver their best performance,” Uppal stated to the press on Monday, just before the tournament.

The Indian lineup features Vaishnavi Adkar, Sahaja Yamalappalli, Ankita Raina, Rutuja Bhosale, and Zeel Desai, who was brought in at the last minute due to injuries sustained by Shrivalli Bhamidipaty and Vaidehee Chaudhari. While Uppal refrained from disclosing his singles lineup for the opening match, he mentioned that having multiple options demonstrates the increasing strength of Indian women's tennis.

“That’s a secret I’ll keep until match day. If I face a dilemma in selecting players for a tie, then that’s a fortunate situation to be in. It indicates depth in our team. I prefer having this challenge over the alternative of lacking players. It’s a positive situation that also highlights the growth of women’s tennis. For instance, Zeel just participated in a tournament last week, and we invited her to join us here,” Uppal remarked when queried about the singles matches.

The 21-year-old Vaishnavi Adkar, who recently ascended to India No. 1 in the rankings on Monday, shared that her debut with the national team is a pivotal moment in her career.

“Firstly, it’s an honor to represent the country as part of this team. It becomes even more special since we rarely have the chance to play alongside each other. It’s truly a privilege to be on the same team with these girls. We are all excited for the upcoming matches,” she expressed.

Veteran Ankita Raina, who has been representing India for over ten years, echoed the captain’s confidence, underscoring the team’s readiness. “We are familiar with the players and have competed against them,” Raina stated.

“We understand their strengths and weaknesses. So we are well-prepared. Each day, we will assess our opponents and how the ties progress. We’ve succeeded before, both in and out of India, and we aim to achieve the same level of performance here as well. Our belief is strong,” she added.

On Sunday evening, the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association (DLTA) organized a vibrant welcome dinner for the teams in the capital. The event beautifully combined culture and sport, with Indian team members donning elegant sarees, adding a unique Indian touch. Players, captains, and officials from India, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, Mongolia, New Zealand, and Thailand were present, enjoying a relaxed setting ahead of a week filled with intense competition. Anil Jain, President of the AITA, and Kartar Singh Tanwar, Member of the Legislative Assembly, were also in attendance.

Uppal concluded the press briefing by expressing hope that robust support from home would be vital for the Indian team's triumph, stating, “I hope the Delhi NCR community turns out in large numbers to back the women's team and becomes our X factor. We are eager to put our best foot forward. The DLTA has always been a successful venue for us. Let’s aim to replicate that success and hopefully, by Saturday, we’ll all be wearing bigger smiles.”