Ankita Raina named in India squad for Fed Cup

India's top singles player, Ankita Raina, has been named in the four-member team for the Fed Cup Asia/Oceania Group I event, which is slated to be held at the R K Khanna Tennis stadium in the national capital from February 7 to February 10.

Besides Raina, who is ranked 259 in the world, Karman Kaur Thandi (ranked 285) Pranjala Yadlapalli (ranked 482) have also made it to the squad.

The four-member Indian contingent is completed by Prarthana Thombare, who is India's second-highest ranked player at number 144 after veteran player Sania Mirza (12).

Mirza, who is currently struggling from a knee injury and has already withdrawn from season-opening Australian Open, will not feature in Fed Cup.

The All India Tennis Association (AITA) selection committee, which held a telephonic meeting on Tuesday to discuss the team, has kept talented Zeel Desai and Rutuja Bhosale as reserves in the squad.

Meanwhile, former tennis player Ankita Bhambri will take over the mantle of coaching the side for the tournament.

India will aim to qualify for the World Group II in the eight-team Group I, which also feature China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea and Thailand.

There will be two pools of four team each and the winners of each pool will square off with one another to find out which nation make it to the World Group II play-offs, which is to be held in April 2018.