MALAYSIA'S HOPES: (from left) Singaram Selvarajoo, Khoo Chin Bee, Neesha Thirumalaichelvam, Datuk Abdul Razak Latiff, Choo Lyn Yee and Jawariah Noordin during the Fed Cup draw at Seri Pacific Hotel Kuala Lumpur

KUALA LUMPUR: India’s tennis scene is not all about Sania Mirza. Without doubt Sania has mesmerised the people of India with her talents, encouraging many Indians to pick up the sport and go professional.

Sania Mirza

Nevertheless, with Sania ready to shelve her racquet for good in a couple years, former India international Rohit Rajpal believes that a new breed of players are capable of filling Sania’s shoes in the near future.

"Sania has made the game really big in India. We have to thank her," admitted Rohit. "The popularity of the sport in India has grown tremendously. Sania’s a great role model especially to the younger players."

Rohit, who is the non-playing captain of India’s Fed Cup team, singled out the likes of Poojashree Venkatesha and Sanaa Bhambri as capable of emulating Sania.

"They are playing great tennis and they could very well be the next Sania… you’ll never know."

India are in Group A with Singapore and Malaysia in the Fed Cup Asia/Oceania Zone Group II tournament at the National Tennis Centre in Jalan Duta which started this morning.

Rohit, a successful junior player before quitting the sport at age 21, pointed out the number of Asian players on the international scene was growing rapidly and that this region will be able to match their opposite numbers from Europe and the Americas.

Among those who have made an impact at the top level are China’s Li Na, Zheng Jie, Thailand's Paradorn Sriachaphan and the kingdom's 2009 junior Wimbledon player Noppawan Lertcheewakarn.

"The next decade will belong to Asia. We’re an emerging region, both in sports and economy.

"It is a matter of time before Asia is on par with the other continents."

Top national player Jawariah Nordin, meanwhile, believes the host team will be able to brush aside Singapore to secure the second spot in the group.

"India are a class above us so it’s going to be an experience playing against a good team," said the Penangite, who is expected to play Sania in the first singles.