BAHRAIN hosts Group II of the 2018 Fed Cup Asia/Oceania Zone this week at the Bahrain Tennis Federation (BTF) hard courts in Isa Town.
The Bahrainis are one of 14 national teams from across the continent taking part in the competition. The others are Indonesia, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Malaysia, New Zealand, Oman, Pacific Oceania, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Uzbekistan.
Each squad is made up of at least three players. Bahrain have four – Safa Safar, Nazil Nader Redha, Maya Bseisu and Faten Husain. They are captained by Hamad Al Fardan.
The teams have been divided into four pools. The winners of each pool will play-off against one another (A1 v C1 and B1 v D1) to determine which two nations will advance to Asia/Oceania Zone Group I next year.
The draw was held yesterday at the BTF courts. Pool ‘A’ consists of Lebanon, Uzbekistan and New Zealand. Pool ‘B’ includes Kyrgyzstan, Philippines and Singapore. Pool ‘C’ features Oman, Iran, Malaysia and Pacific Oceania while Pool ‘D’ has Pakistan, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and hosts Bahrain.
Matches begin today at 10am. Bahrain open their campaign against their Indonesian counterparts. There will be two singles matches and one in doubles.
The tournament continues until Saturday at the BTF.
TEAMS
Bahrain: Safa Safar, Nazil Nader Redha, Maya Bseisu, Fatan Husain.
Indonesia: B Gumulya, Aldila Sutjiadi, Jessy Rompies, Deria Nur Haliza.
Iran: Sara Azaddoost, Shahrzad Banisaeid, Kimiya Asbaghipour, Sadaf Sadeghvaziri.
Kyrgyzstan: Ksenia Palkina, Saara Kunakunova, Kanykey Koichumanova.
Lebanon: Yara Fayssal, Hoda Habib, Nancy Karaky, Sara Nassif.
Malaysia: Jawairiah Noordin, Theiviya Selvarajoo, Suhana Sofia.
New Zealand: E Routliffe, Jade Lewis, Emily Fanning, K Westbury.
Oman: Fatma Al Nabhani, Sarah Al Balushi, Maryam Al Balushi, Aisha Al Suleimani.
Pacific Oceania: Abigail Tere-Apisah, S Carruthers, C Youngsuh Lee.
Pakistan: Ushna Suhail, Sara Mansoor, Sarah Mahboob Khan, Mahin Qureshi.
Philippines: Katharina Lehnert, Anna Clarice Patrimonio, Khim Iglupas, Marian Jade Capadocia.
Singapore: Stefanie Tan, Tammy Tan, Lynelle En Tong Lim, Charmaine Shi Yi Seah.
Sri Lanka: Anika Seneviratne, Nethmi Himashi Waduge, Savini Jayasuriya, Janali Manamperi.
Uzbekistan: S Sharipova, N Abduraimova, Akgul Amanmuradova, Yasmina Karimjanova.