Big names axed from Kerala's Fed Cup squad

KOCHI: Kerala men's unimpressive performance at the recent senior national championships has prompted the state association to make a bold move by dropping a handful of big names for their Federation Cup title defence that will begin February 15 in Rajasthan.
Top Indian pair of Akhin and Jerome Vinith, besides setter Jithin, who captained the state team to success in the previous Fed Cup held at Amritsar last October, and the sensational Shon T John have been dropped.Ansab O, Sunil Kumar S, Bijil Abraham and Tinu Antony have been called up instead.
The shuffle has also hit the coaching department with Abdul Rassak making way for Bijoy Babu as the head coach and former state captain Vibin M George arriving as his assistant. "After the senior nationals there was a need to bring some freshness into the side," said a member of state association.
In the absence of chief central blocker Akhin, Kerala will turn to youngsters Sarang Shanthilal and Mohammed Iqbal to step up their game. Kerala had lost twice, first in the league phase and later in the semifinals, to the Railways, at the senior national championships earlier this month.
Meanwhile, changes have also been made in the state women's squad that are the reigning Fed Cup and senior national champions. Albin Thomas, Saranya NS, Maya Thomas and Aswathi E have been dropped and their places have been taken by Ananya Aneesh, Mary Aneena, Athulya U and Anagha NP.
Teams:
Men: Muthu Swamy, Tinu Antony, Mohammed Iqbal, Sarang Santhilal, Bijil Abraham, Ajithlal, Erin Varghese, Raheem, Sunil Kumar S, Ansab O, Jibin Sebastian, Ratheesh C, Bijoy Babu (head coach), Vibin M George (assistant coach)
Women: Jini KS, Ananya Aneesh, Soorya S, Anju Balakrishnan, Mary Aneena J, Rekha S, Sruthi M, Anjali Babu, Athulya U, Anusree KP, Anagha NP, Aswathi Raveendran, Sadanandan CS (head coach), Radhika Kapil Dev (assistant coach)