The All India Tennis Affiliation (AITA) on Tuesday recommended that the nation’s prime participant Sumit Nagal maybe intentionally missed the Davis Cup tie towards Sweden final week claiming that he was injured, however is now set to play an ATP event in China.
India was hammered 0-4 by Sweden and AITA secretary Anil Dhupar mentioned the absence of prime gamers like Nagal and Yuki Bhambri within the squad damage the nationwide workforce’s possibilities of doing nicely within the World Group I contest in Stockholm.
Skipper Rohit Rajpal fielded doubles participant N. Sriram Balaji within the opening singles. Ramkumar Ramanathan was the one skilled participant within the squad and two of the opposite three — Aryan Shah and Siddharth Vishwakarma — have been debutants.
Niki Pooancha, who’s simply one-tie outdated, additionally largely focusses on doubles.
So successfully, India had only one singles participant.
Nagal had opted out of the tie saying that he had a again subject whereas Yuki didn’t specify why he selected to not play. Nonetheless, Nagal has entered the ATP 250 occasion in Hangzhou and is drawn to fulfill a Qualifier in his opening spherical.
“Undoubtedly, if Sumit and Yuki had performed, we might have had much better probabilities. They questioned the administration of AITA, the captain and workforce. Sumit Nagal mentioned he had some again downside, however (is) that downside okay (now)? He’s enjoying a event in China, so any person has to make folks perceive the proper factor,” Dhupar mentioned.
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Mukund Sasikumar was already suspended by the AITA and Dhupar mentioned that captain Rajpal made many efforts to get him on the workforce.
“The captain referred to as 10 occasions and that he’ll request the chief committee to revoke the choice (suspension). It’s time so that you can play. If there’s a choice towards you, he’ll request the chief committee. However he refused.”
After India’s crushing defeat, Nagal and former gamers Somdev Devvarman and Purav Raja had questioned the best way AITA features.
Nagal had additionally questioned why AITA officers have been standing within the entrance row whereas the gamers have been within the again row forward of the tie towards Sweden.
AITA additionally launched an announcement on its twitter deal with, saying that Davis Cup is extra than simply tennis.
“Representing India in Davis Cup is extra than simply tennis — it’s about honour, nationwide delight and galvanizing the following era of athletes. Gamers like Sumit Nagal, Yuki Bhambri and Mukund Sasikumar refused to play for nation regardless that they have been collaborating in different tournaments elsewhere.
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“AITA administration, together with the captain of the Davis Cup workforce, tried to persuade every of them to play for nation, however they merely refused,” the tennis physique mentioned in its assertion. PTI reached out to Nagal, Bhambri and Mukund however all three refused to remark.
AITA additionally launched an inventory of its work, saying it carried out as many as 829 tournaments for the advantage of the gamers in 2023 season. It additionally mentioned that it carried out a number of programs to develop new coaches and that 130 new coaches had registered with the sports activities physique within the 2024 season.
Dhupar clarified, “I’m not making an attempt to make any level. I’m making an attempt (to say) that there are few issues we’ve got executed.
“Davis Cup is unquestionably a vital. It’s greater than a event, each participant who’s an Indian ought to take part if chosen. So why not?
“He (Nagal) mentioned that he had a again harm and now he has entered this Hangzhou Open. He has grow to be alright. My good needs to him. Let the nation resolve. Let the folks of India resolve,” Dhupar mentioned.
“And it isn’t the primary time that Mukund refused, (he has) 3 times earlier than. Let the folks resolve. The gamers resolve. What can we do? We tried our greatest to convey these folks on board. If they don’t seem to be accessible, what to do?”
Dhupar mentioned that AITA was dealing with “pointless” criticism for the loss towards Sweden.
“The brand new committee goes to be coming within the first week of October. They may resolve what’s to be executed,” he added.