PUNE: Ankita Raina has called for “some consistency” in the appointment of senior support staff of the Indian Billie Jean King Cup team.
The country’s No. 1 singles player also stressed on the need for an additional physiotherapist and trainer.
“I feel it’ll be easier for the players if we can have some consistency in the captain and coach. I think getting someone new each time is of no help and doesn’t serve the purpose,” Raina, the 2018 Asian Games bronze medallist in singles, said.
“For the player and the coach-captain, it takes time to gel and understand (each other). I mean, it’s just a matter of a week but still if we want to qualify and do well as a team, we need to have the right intention and team spirit.”
Raina’s comments come in the wake of the All India Tennis Association replacing Vishaal Uppal, who had been the captain since 2019, with Shalini Thakur.
Former player Shalini had served as the team’s coach during the previous campaign in the Asia-Oceania Group 1 competition in Turkey last year.
In 2021, the team had Radhika Tulpule Kanitkar as the coach for the World Group 1 playoff tie in Latvia. Ankita Bhambri was the coach in the previous two years with Uppal at helm.
Radhika will be assisting the team in the upcoming Asia-Oceania Group 1 competition, scheduled to be played in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from April 11 to 15.
China, Japan, Korea, Thailand and hosts Uzbekistan are the other teams in the fray. The top two teams will advance to the World Group 1 playoff.
Contrary to the Indian Davis Cup team, which plays one nation in each tie, the women’s team takes on five oppositions in the competition.
Raina urged the AITA to provide the team with more support staff.
“It would be of great help if we can have two physios and trainers as practically it’s not possible to have one (physio and trainer) for four players,” she said.
“There are times when one player needs to warm up for the match and another needs recovery right after (her) match. So what are you gonna do at that point with one physio, why put players and physio in such a situation?”
The upcoming tie will be the team's first campaign in the post-Sania Mirza era, although the Hyderabadi star had missed the competition a few times earlier.
"Having her obviously did give us some advantage and other teams had to look out since if any tie would go to doubles, which is the decider, we naturally had that confidence and edge over other teams, like we saw in 2020 Dubai Fed Cup when we had the historic win," Raina said of Sania's impact on the team.
"Having said that, we’ve played in her absence as well. So it’s not a new situation, but it goes without saying that the team will miss her."
Raina said Sania's retirement did not change the responsibility on her shoulders in anyway.
"Not really. As I mentioned, I’ve been in that position before and feel that the responsibility is always there when you are playing for the country," she said.
"I’ve played my best tennis and had some really good wins there. And the experience which I’ve had (during the) last 10 years in BJKC would help."
Sahaja Yamalapalli and Vaidehi Chaudhury are the two uncapped players in the team which also has Rashmika Shrivalli as reserve.
Raina said the key to the newcomers would be quickly adjusting to the dynamics of a team sport.
"Being their first year, they need to get used to the team atmosphere and having the team spirit is important, as normally all of us are habituated doing things as per our routine," the 30-year-old said.
"In my opinion, Vaidehi and Sahaja both have the potential. If they keep at it and continue working, results will follow.
"We have a fairly good chance as we know and have played all the teams. Not saying it won’t be tough but it is just about believing and playing our hearts out because that’s what Billie Jean King Cup is all about."
