No hot favourites in Fed cup

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Most of the big names in Indian basketball have landed in town and a lot more are expected to fly down shortly as Kochi is set to blow the whistle for the 26th Federation Cup slated to begin today. This is the 7th time Kerala is hosting the Federation Cup.

Customs & Central Excise and the State team will take guard, in the men’s and women’s categories respectively for the hosts, against some of the finest ball handlers in the country.

While Kerala girls have basked in the limelight in almost every other category except the seniors’ the previous year, brushing shoulders with the likes of Southern Railway, Chhattisgarh and Delhi will be a test of fire for the hosts this year.

“You can never pick out one hot favourite in this tournament though Delhi and Railways have several players representing India at present. If our girls play their best they can win something from here,” said Biju D. Themman, coach of Kerala girls’ team.

Junior India players Jeena P.S., Soniya Joy, Neenumol P.S. and Stephy Nixon make Kerala one of the most exciting units, if not the youngest in the championship.

A fair enough chance however, lies in the raw talent of C & CE for the home dugout. But since winning the State champions trophy last month, the 2004 Fed Cup winners have been marred by a string of injuries.

India player Eudrick Pereira suffered a shin fracture at the national camp and will be out of action, also two other prominent players who helped clinch the Champion’s Trophy will be missed, which only aggravates their chances of advance.

“But we have the home advantage,” points out Sunny Thomas, C & CE coach. “A few of them were part of the squad that won in 2004 so we have experience. A semifinal berth is what I am eyeing at the moment,” he added.

The lanky former India player Subash Shenoy, Monish Wilson and Vivek were part of that triumphant squad and the form of shooter Manoj R. pep up a fair chance to C & CE though overcoming the likes of ONGC, IOB and defending champions Western Railways will be a daunting task.