Shikha aiming to break into top 100 position

Dubai: Indian Fed Cup team member Shikha Uberoi has set herself a realistic goal to break into the top 100 by the end of the year.

Shikha, hailing from one of the famous Bollywood families in Mumbai, wants to keep on performing so that she can achieve her goal.

"I just have to keep on going the way I am, if I have to achieve my goal of breaking into the top 100," Uberoi told Gulf News after losing to Frenchwoman Stephanie Cohen-Aloro in their first round qualifier at the Dubai Duty Free Women's Open on Sunday.

Next encounter

Shikha had her best singles career ranking of 122 in the second half of 2005, but she is currently at 228.

Shikha has been a regular Fed Cup player for India and she cannot wait for the next encounter in April.

"I am quite excited about the Fed Cup. I want to do well and ensure India is a force to reckon with," she stated.

And being a successful sportsperson in India comes with a price tag, especially if the player concerned has a cousin brother as one of the top actors from Bollywood.

Shikha is Bollywood actor Vivek Uberoi's first cousin - their fathers Suresh and Mahesh are brothers - and she is aware of her responsibilities as she tries to keep away from the limelight.

"He is a good guy but I do not get inspired by him," Shikha said about Vivek Uberoi.

"Of course I look up to him and admire the way he handles his busy, high-profile life," she added.

Shikha is a self taught player. During the course of her first round qualifying match against Stephanie Cohen-Aloro on Sunday, she was seen referring to some notes from her bag from time to time.

"I am my own coach," Shikha said.