Sumit Nagal, India’s leading men’s singles player, opted out of Davis Cup Tie, says AITA

New Delhi: The All India Tennis Association had expressed disappointment Tuesday, hinting that the u . s . a .’s top player, Sumit Nagal, steer clear off taking part in last week’s Davis Cup tie against Sweden. Nagal had said he turn into injured but has now been given a berth for an ATP tournament scheduled in China. India lost 0-four to Sweden, and AITA secretary Anil Dhupar identified that the absence of key players just like Nagal and Yuki Bhambri considerably affected the national team’s performance contained in the World Group I contest here the day sooner than this.

Two singles specialist needed to be fielded as doubles specialist N Sriram Balaji opened the rubber contained in the absence of key players. Ramkumar Ramanathan turn into essentially the most effective experienced player contained in the squad; two of the remainder three—Aryan Shah and Siddharth Vishwakarma—made their debut at some point of the tie.

Niki Poonacha has played in precisely one previous Davis Cup tie and doesn’t essentially have an abundance of singles experience, while Sumit Nagal pulled out as a consequence of a back problem. Yuki Bhambri didn’t report a cause of withdrawing. Curiously, Nagal opted for the ATP250 in Hangzhou as a substitute and can play a qualifier in his opener.

“Definitely if Sumit and Yuki had played, we'd have had some distance better chances. They questioned the management of AITA, the captain and team. Sumit Nagal said he had some back problem, but (is) that problem okay (now)? He is playing a tournament in China, so somebody has to make people take into accout essentially the most productive valuable thing,” Dhupar said.

When asked whether Mukund Sasikumar, who turn into already suspended by the All India Tennis Association (AITA), may wish been included, AITA secretary Anil Dhupar revealed that no matter the suspension, captain Rohit Rajpal made efforts to get him on the team for the tie.

“The captain is often known as 10 times and that he's going to request the executive committee to revoke the choice (suspension). It’s time in order that that you just may perchance play. If there may perchance perchance be a call against you, he's going to request the executive committee. But he refused.” After India’s crushing defeat, Nagal and former players Somdev Devvarman and Purav Raja had questioned the manner AITA functions.

Sumit Nagal turn into one in all individuals who spoke out against the seating arrangement sooner than the dead rubber against Sweden but is stumped as to why AITA officials were seated contained in the front row when the players were relegated to the back row.

AITA also released an announcement on its twitter cope with, saying that Davis Cup is larger than just tennis.

“Representing India in Davis Cup is larger than just tennis — it’s about honour, national pride and inspiring the following generation of athletes. Players like Sumit Nagal, Yuki Bhambri and Mukund Sasikumar refused to play for u . s . a . though they were taking part in other tournaments every other place.

“AITA management, including the captain of the Davis Cup team, tried to convince each of them to play for u . s . a ., but they simply refused,” the tennis body said in its statement. PTI reached out to Nagal, Bhambri and Mukund but all three refused to comment.

AITA also highlighted its efforts by releasing a catalogue of activities, noting that it organized 829 tournaments for players contained in the 2023 season and conducted a few courses for new coaches, with 100 thirty new coaches registering with the sports body in 2024. When asked in regards to the purpose of this statement, Dhupar spoke back, “I’m now now not having a look to make any point. I’m just sharing the things we've done.”

“There's one point that people should know. Number two, Davis Cup is well a an important. It’s greater than a tournament, every player who is an Indian should participate if selected. So why now now not? “He (Nagal) said that he had a back injury and now he has entered this Hangzhou Open. He has became okay. My good wishes to him. Let the u . s . a . make a decision. Let the people of India make a decision,” Dhupar said.

“And which is now now not the first time that Mukund refused, thrice sooner than. Let the people make a decision, the players make a decision what do we do? We tried our greatest to bring these people on board. If they are now now not on hand, what to do?” Dhupar said that AITA turn into facing “unnecessary” criticism for the loss against Sweden.

“The new committee is going to be coming contained in the first week of October. They are going to make a decision what is to be done.”