The International Tennis Federation (ITF) on Sunday shifted the Federation Cup games from virus-hit China to Kazakhastan. The All India Tennis Association (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 which is hit by coronavirus.
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. This Federation 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 Federation Cup team after four years.
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.