India's Fed Cup matches shifted out of China due to coronavirus, Sania Mirza doubtful
The AITA had written to the ITF requesting it to shift or postpone the meet originally scheduled to be held in Dongguan from February 4 keeping in mind the medical emergency in China.
In Short
- The coronavirus outbreak in China has claimed 56 lives so far
- Indian team is likely to travel play the Fed Cup without the injured Sania Mirza
- This tournament is Sania's ticket to Tokyo Olympics but a no show might complicate matters
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) on Sunday shifted the Fed Cup games from virus-hit China to Kazakhastan.
"The ITF has said matches have been shifted to Kazakhstan," All India Tennis Association (AITA) Secretary General Hironmoy Chatterjee told IANS.
The AITA had had written to the ITF requesting it to shift or postpone the meet originally scheduled to be held in Dongguan from February 4 keeping in mind the medical emergency in China which is hit by coronavirus virus.
The coronavirus outbreak has claimed 56 lives so far, a media report said. A statement posted on the website of US Embassy in China on Sunday confirmed the plan to evacuate diplomats and US citizens in Wuhan.
Meanwhile, the Indian team will, in all likelihood, travel to Kazakhstan without Sania Mirza who retired mid-way into her women's doubles first round at the Australian Open due to a calf injury.
"We have written to her. Let's see," Chatterjee said.
This Fed Cup is Sania's ticket to the Tokyo Olympics and a no show might complicate matters.
However, the ITF might consider she was on maternity break for two years and only returned to play the Hobart International with partner Nadiia Kichenok which she won.
Sania had returned to the Indian Fed Cup team after four years.
Olympic football qualifiers also shifted
Meanwhile, the women's Olympic football qualifiers have also been shifted out of China due to the same reason. The football tournament had already been moved from Wuhan to Nanjing in Jiangsu province, but will now be held in Sydney, the Asian Football Confederation said.
"The safety of all players, officials and fans is of paramount importance to Football Federation Australia and the Asian Football Confederation, and we are confident we will host a successful tournament here in Sydney," Australian football chief Chris Nikou said in a statement.
China's Xinhua news agency said the Chinese Football Association took the decision to offload the Olympic qualifiers, which involve China, Australia, Taiwan and Thailand, after cases of the virus came to light in Jiangsu.