India's playing-captain Sania Mirza, who returned from the United States after achieving the World No.1 rank in women's doubles, did not need to take field in the Fed Cup tie against Pakistan as the players from the neighboring country proved easy meat for the two Indian girls.
Back in the country after a third successive WTA title triumph which catapulted her to the top of world doubles rankings, Sania hopes that her feat would inspire youngsters to take up the sport as a career.
"It's an amazing feeling. It's great to come back home being the number one. To achieve this after putting in lot of work and sacrifice, it's really good," said Sania.
With star shuttler Saina Nehwal also achieving world number one rank for some time in badminton recently, she hoped that young girls and women would be inspired to take up sports as a career.
"Me and Saina having done this, I do hope that sports does become a career," she said.
Ankita Raina and Prarthana Thombare trounced their rivals in the singles matches as India blanked Pakistan 2-0 in their opening tie in the Asia/Oceania
Group II.
Prarthana trounced Sara Mansoor 6-1, 6-0 in the first singles match of the day and then Ankita, India's top singles player, sealed the issue with an equally dominating 6-0, 6-1 win over Ushna Suhail.
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