India, April 12 -- What started off with the young guns taking charge ended with the older guard of the Indian women's tennis team providing the finishing touch. Those on the bench quietly crept up towards the edge of the players' area, waiting in anticipation as 31-year-old Prarthana Thombare and 32-year-old Ankita Raina reached match point in the deciding rubber of the Asia/Oceania Group 1 tie against South Korea in the Billie Jean King Cup.

And once Thombare's forehand down-the-line winner hit the backboard, coach, captain, players, physios - the entire squad - charged onto centre court of the Balewadi Tennis Stadium in Pune. With the win, India had reached the playoff stage of the premier women's team event for only the second time....