Ankita leads India to win over Thailand

Pune: Ankita Raina anchored India to a 2-1 win against Thailand in the opening rubber of the Billie Jean King Cup Asia-Oceania Group 1 competition in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on Tuesday.After Luksika Kumkhum put the Thais ahead by beating Rutuja Bhosale 6-2, 6-1, Ankita got India back on level terms with a 5-7, 6-1, 6-3 win over Pengtarn Plipuech.In the decisive doubles, Ankita and Rutuja put it past Luksika and Peangtarn 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in 2 hours and 11 minutes.India play hosts Uzbekistan on Wednesday.The Shalini Thakur-captained side was set back by the absence of Karman Kaur Thandi due to injury ahead of the tie. Reserve Rashmika Shrivalli stepped in to the team which also has Vaidehi Chaudhari and Sahaja Yamalapalli. Radhika Tulpule Kanitkar is the coach. China, Japan and Korea are the other teams in the six-team pool. The top two teams advance to the World Group playoff. Japan blanked Korea 3-0 and China beat Uzbekistan by identical scoreline in the other matches of the day.