Nandan Bal is India's Davis Cup coach

Former national champion Nandan Bal has been appointed coach of India's Davis Cup team for the 2001 season.

In a bid to improve the quality and performance of the second line of players, the All India Tennis Association handed Bal the responsibility of coaching a string of promising players on a full-time basis.

India meet China in the first round of the Asia-Oceania Davis Cup Zone-I rubber in Beijing from February 9 to 11.

Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi will spearhead the team while the other members will be identified after the forthcoming Futures Circuit tournament.

Ramesh Krishnan is the non-playing captain of the team.

"Apart from travelling as coach during India's Davis Cup encounters, Nandan Bal will have the responsibility of coordinating the tennis activities of the second line of players," AITA secretary general Anil Khanna informed.

Former Davis Cup coach Enrico Piperno has been appointed captain of the Indian Fed Cup team in place of Bal.

The Indian Fed Cup team will participate in the Asia-Oceania Group I tie from March 19 to 24 in Taiwan.

With Bal being given a full-time job with the AITA, his place as member of the selection committee has been given to C G K Bhupathi.