India could spice up ties: academic

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

With strong will from India’s government and inter-party effort in Taiwan, the two countries could sign a free-trade agreement (FTA) by next year, an Indian academic wrote in a column published on Saturday.

Madhav Das Nalapat, director of Manipal University’s Department of Geopolitics and the UNESCO Peace Chair holder, made the comment in a newspaper column titled “Tsai visit boosts India-Taiwan ties,” in which he addressed the 10-day visit to the south Asian country by former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文). The piece was published on the Web site of the English-language Pakistan Observer newspaper.

Taiwan boys advance to second round of Junior Davis Cup

Taipei, April 21 (CNA) The Taiwan boys' team lost to India 2-1 in the 2010 Junior Davis Cup tennis tournament Wednesday in Kuching, Malaysia, but still managed to advance to the second round.

Taiwan finished the round with a 2-1 record and advanced with Group 4 leader India to the final eight of the 16-team Asia/Oceania Final Qualifying tournament. Taiwan beat both the Philippines and Pakistan 3-0 in previous competition.

Taiwan's Lee Li-lun and Ho Chih-jen lost in singles Wednesday before winning the doubles match.

According to the Chinese Taipei Tennis Association, Japan has won Group 1 while junior tennis powerhouse Australia is expected to win Group 2. China and South Korea are battling to lead Group 3.

Eight teams in the second round will vie for the three seats for the Asia/Oceania zone in the world finals.

Around 90 nations and 170 teams compete in regional qualifying events around the world every year to reach the Junior Davis Cup and Junior Fed Cup Finals, to be played from Sept. 28-Oct. 3 this year in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. (By Chris Wang) enditem/bc