Sania to team with Bopanna

Sania Mirza 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 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, 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.