rediff.com: Mankad gets nod for Davis Cup duty

The All India Tennis Association Thursday inducted the talented Harsh Mankad in the five-member Indian Davis Cup team for their World Group qualifying round tie against Sweden, at Bastad.

The 21-year-old Mankad, who has been quite impressive in the Satellite circuit this year, is the lone new face in the team announced by the selection committee chairman Shyam Minotra.

The squad will have to do without the services of ace Davis Cupper Leander Paes, who has been out of action with a wrist injury.

Mahesh Bhupathi, who has not featured in the Indian Davis Cup team since April last year due to injury problems, will lead the Indian challenge.

Syed Fazaluddin, Prahlad Srinath and Vishal Uppal are the other members of the team.

Minotra said the selectors decided to take an additional player keeping in mind the fact that Bhupathi had come out of a long injury lay-off and had not played too many singles matches.

''He (Mahesh) had earlier indicated that he will play only the doubles. Since he played the singles at Wimbledon, he may now play the singles. We will have to wait and see," Minotra explained.

He said non-playing captain Ramesh Krishnan will ultimately decide the four-member team after evaluating the fitness and form of the players in Sweden.

Minotra said Harsh Mankad has been quite impressive in the Satellite meets and thus the selectors felt he should get a chance.

''Mankad is young and promising. He has been playing well this year and deserves a chance. We have to start grooming the youngsters," he said.

He said though Vishal Uppal had not fared well in recent Satellite meets, the selectors could not ignore him as he had done well for the country in Davis Cup ties.

The names of Ajay Ramaswamy, Sunil Kumar and Sandeep Kirtane were also discussed, but Mankad's consistent performance helped him get the nod.

''It is the best team that we could think of. We can only replace a player if we find someone better than him,'' he said.

Asked to comment on Mahesh Bhupathi's reported statement that he may pull out of the Davis Cup if Syed Fazaluddin is not part of the Indian team, Minotra said: ''The top player's preference has to be taken into account while selecting the team. But he should not have said it in this way."

The selectors also announced the team for the forthcoming Millennium Commonwealth Youth tennis championship, to be held in Edinburg from August 10 to 14.

Sunil Kumar, Parantap Chaturvedi and Shivang Misra formed the boys' team, with Vinod Sewa as the stand-bye. The girls' team comprises Radhika Tulpule, Sonal Phadke and Megha Wakaria. Isha Lakhani is the stand-bye.


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