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Somdev climbs up to 131 in ATP singles ranking

September 22, 2009 19:11 IST

India's new hero Somdev Devvarman climbed up two places to 131 in the latest ATP rankings while Sania Mirza dropped two spots to 65 in the WTA list.

The teen sensation Yuki Bhambri, who won his Davis Cup debut match on Sunday, also climbed up in the rankings by seven places to 415. There was more good news as Rohan Bopanna also moved up by 36 places to 452th position in the singles chart. There was no change in the doubles ranking of veterans Leander Paes (8) and  Mahesh Bhupathi (6).

Meanwhile, Sports Minister M S Gill on Tuesday met the victorious Davis Cup team and said his policy of allowing only Indian passport holders to represent the country contributed in shaping up the team.

Hero of the play-off tie Somdev Devvaraman, Yuki Bhambri and support staff members called on the minister.

India beat South Africa 4-1, wining all the singles rubbers to storm into the elite World Group after 11 years on Sunday.

"I am happy, that my decision last year, to insist, that only those Indian Players, who hold an Indian passport, play for India, has led to success. Our former stars were fading," Gill said.

"Today, in Devvaraman, (Rohan) Bopanna, and Yuki Bhambri, we have a new team India that will carry Indian tennis forward, to new glories, in the years to come. I congratulate them," he said.

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