Sania opts out of Hyderabad event

Defending champion Sania Mirza has opted out of the second ITF women's championship, to be held at the Fateh Maidan Tennis Complex in Hyderabad later this month.

Players from seven countries will be seen in action in the tournament, starting January 12.

"Sania was committed for two tournaments in Italy and as there was some delay in fixing our tournament she opted for other engagements", tournament director M Chandrasekhar told reporters in Hyderabad on Friday.

The winner of the tournament will get US $1,600 while the runner-up will pocket US $1,000. The main draw has 20 direct entries, four wild cards and eight qualifiers.

Asian junior champion Isha Lakhani is the top seed.

Rushmi Chakravarthi, Ankita Bhambri, Maya Rosa (Indonesia), Giorgia Mortello (Italy) and Maria Penkova (Bulgaria) are the other leading players to get direct entries.

Players from Japan, Bulgaria, Hong Kong, Ukraine, Mauritius and Chinese Taipei will also be seen in action.