Indian Fed Cup team relegated to Group II again

Astana: India were relegated back to Asia/Oceania Group II in the Fed Cup competition after being whitewashed 0-3 by Korea in the relegation play-off tie, here.

Playing without its top player Sania Mirza, India finished off this year`s assignment without winning a single match in the three ties played at the National Tennis Centre. India will now fight to get back to Group I next year after earning a promotion, last year. Rutuja Bhosale gave it her all in the first set but lost 6-7 (5) 1-6 to So-Ra Lee in the first singles. Bhosale, ranked as low as 605, had beaten Lee, ranked 389, last year in an ITF event Pune. Kyra Shroff then lost 4-6 3-6 to Han Sung-Hee and with that defeat India`s hopes to stay in Group I ended. Kyra and Rishika Sunkara then gave a walkover in the dead doubles rubber to Seo-Kyung Kang and Mi Yoo. Earlier, India lost 0-3 to both Kazakhstan and Thailand in Pool A ties. PTI