In a commanding performance, the Indian boys' team trounced China 3-0 to storm into the quarterfinals of the Junior Davis Cup (Under-16) Asia-Oceania Final Qualifying, held in Shymkent, Kazakhstan, on Wednesday. The victory ensured India topped Group C with an all-win record.
Dominant Singles Performances
Tavish Pahwa provided an explosive start, thrashing Junze Wu 6-1, 6-3 in the first singles match. Following that, Hruthik Katakam put it past Hongjin Qi with a solid 6-3, 6-2 victory in the second singles. The duo then combined to defeat Qi and Chuan Ding 6-3, 6-3 in the doubles, sealing the tie comprehensively.
Team's Journey So Far
The Indian team, coached by Rana Banerjee, had earlier beaten Indonesia 2-1 and Malaysia 3-0 in the round-robin phase. Against Indonesia, Ribhav Saroha played as the second singles player, while Katakam featured only in doubles with Pahwa. Saroha lost a gruelling 2-hour 46-minute match 6-4, 5-7, 3-6 to Rafalentino Ali da Costa, which remains India's lone loss in the tournament. Subsequently, Katakam and Pahwa played all three matches against Malaysia and China.
Coach Banerjee revealed that Katakam was suffering from high fever but had to play the doubles to secure the tie. He added that the player is now better.
Quarterfinal Clash with Uzbekistan
India will face Uzbekistan in the quarterfinals on Thursday. Uzbekistan finished second behind Australia in Group B. The other quarterfinal matchups include Japan (A1) versus Korea (D2), Australia (B1) versus China (C2), and Hong Kong (A2) versus hosts Kazakhstan (D1).
In the playoffs for the 9th-16th spots, Chinese Taipei takes on Malaysia, Turkmenistan faces Thailand, and Vietnam meets Pakistan. Indonesia receives a bye in the first round of the playoffs.
Path to the World Finals
The 16 teams were placed in groups of four, with the semifinalists set to advance to the World Finals. India's dominant run so far positions them as strong contenders for a spot in the final stages.
