No easy pickings, girls have to put their best foot forward: India coach Radhika

Pune: Despite continental power-houses China and Japan not being in the fray, coach Radhika Tulpule Kanitkar on Friday refused to cast hosts India as firm favourites in the Billie Jean King Cup Asia-Oceania Group 1 competition here next week.
"I mean, it's the Billie Jean King Cup, the Women's World Cup of tennis. All the teams have their top players, like we have our top players. So every team is tough," the 43-year-old Radhika said.

"Earlier we used to get, you know, ‘this one we can beat'. But we can't say that now. All in all, all teams are equal. It's about who performs on that particular day. So the girls have to put their best foot forward, the best game forward."
China and Japan advanced from the group stage last year, and will compete in the Finals and Qualifiers, respectively, this season.
The Indian team, with Vishaal Uppal as captain, began their preparations at the Mhalunge-Balewadi sports complex from Wednesday. They had their first full-fledged practice session on Friday after light drizzles interrupted their schedules the previous days.
"We've had shorter practice sessions, but these are professional players. They are coming in from playing tournaments, so they are in form, match-sharp. But, for me, it's always the team bonding which is more important, because it's how we gel as a team. I think on that front, it's great," the 43-year-old Radhika said.
Radhika, a native of Pune, believed playing at home was more an advantage than a pressure.
"I don't look at it as added pressure. The weather is something that suits us, so we definitely have a plus there, compared to going to China or Kazakhstan where there are extreme temperatures, which is not easy," she said.
Radhika, in her fourth stint as India coach, featured in just one tie as a player. But it turned out to be a winning one — in 2000 against Kazakhstan.
"Back then, there was a lot of excitement, and at the same time, pressure in a way, because I got chosen in the team when I was still a junior. So I was the limbu-timbu of the team that time," she recalled.
"But we had a great team. I played doubles with Manisha Malhotra. At that time, we had the senior most people in the team — Nirupama (Sanjeev), Manisha and Sai-Jayalakshmy (Jayaram). Me and Manisha actually won the doubles, against Kazakhstan. So being a junior and partnering such a seasoned player was a great experience."
Radhika was all praise for the current lot.
"It's a good mix of youngsters and experienced players. So I think this time, we do have a lot of options in terms of nominations," she said.
"I'm really happy about the team today because, back in the years, everybody knew ‘she'll play as (number) one, she'll play as (number) two, and this is who is going to play doubles.
"So that's the big change over the years. This is my fourth year as a coach, and every year the quality of players is becoming so much better, in that they are performing well in singles as well as doubles.
"And for a team competition it really helps."