Sania Mirza [Images] will team with Rohan Bopanna when India takes on the Chinese challenge of Mao-Xin Gong and Shuia Zhang in the Asian Hopman Cup 2006 mixed team competition, beginning in Hyderabad on Thursday.

"Sania will team with Bopanna, after Leander Paes [Images] withdrew from the tournament in view of injuries to his index finger," All India Tennis Association secretary-general Anil Khanna said.

Six teams from China, Japan [Images], Chinese Taipei, Thailand, the Philippines and hosts India are taking part in the event.

Uzbekistan opted out in view of the Asian Games, Khanna said.

The winning team will get a wild card entry into the Hopman Cup tournament, to be held at Perth, Australia, from December 30.

The tournament will feature men's and women's singles matches followed by a mixed doubles.

Two groups of three teams will play a round-robin in the tournament that carries prize-money of US $70,000.

The groups:

Group A: India, Japan and China.

Group B: Chinese Taipei, Thailand and the Philippines.

Event schedule:

Thursday, Nov 23: India vs China; Chinese Taipei vs the Philippines.

Friday, Nov 24: Japan vs China, Thailand vs the Philippines

Saturday, Nov 25: India vs Japan; Chinese Taipei vs Thailand

Sunday, Nov 26: Final: Winner of Group A vs Winner of Group B

Other teams:

Chinese Taipei: Ti Chen and I-Hsuan Hwang.

Japan: Yuihi Sugita and Tomoko Yonemura.

Thailand: Weeerapat Doakmaiklee and Nudnida Luangnam.

China: Mao-Xin Gong and Shuai Zhang.

The Philippines: Patrick John Tierro and Czarina-Mae Arevalo.

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