India snatch berth in
Jr Fed Cup World Group

Sania Mirza and Ankita Bhambri continued their good showing as India beat Thailand 3-0 in the Asia-Oceania girls' qualifying tournament and booked a berth in the World Group of the Junior Fed Cup tennis event.

At the Gelora Senayam tennis stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Friday, Bhambri beat Nudnida Luangnum, the Thailand No. 2, 6-2, 6-4 while Mirza scored a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Thai No 1 Pichittra Thongdach.

Sania and Ankita, the reigning national women's doubles champions, then beat Luangnam and Prim Buakleee 6-1, 6-4 in the doubles to complete a sweep.

With a 12-0 record, India became the first team to make it to the semi-finals. After four matches, they are still to drop a set. Earlier, they had beaten The Philippines, Indonesia and Uzbekistan, all by 3-0 margins.

India, who are seeded fourth, now take on China in the semi-finals on Saturday. China beat Australia in the other quarter-final on Friday.

The 2002 Junior Federation Cup finals will take place in La Baule, France, from September 9.

Four teams will qualify from the Asia-Oceania group for the finals. France, as host nation, are automatic qualifiers.

The international team competition for players aged 16 and under was launched by the ITF in 1985 as the "World Youth Cup" between 1988 and 2001.

This year the ITF re-branded the boys' competition as "Junior Davis Cup". The girls' competition was also changed to "Junior Fed Cup".