Fact-Check: Has Sumit Nagal Refused To Play For The Country?

The All India Tennis Association (AITA) said on Tuesday that Sumit Nagal, India’s top tennis player, might have intentionally skipped the Davis Cup tie against Sweden last week. Although Nagal claimed he was injured, he is now scheduled to compete in an ATP tournament in China. India suffered a 0-4 defeat against Sweden, and AITA Secretary Anil Dhupar believes the absence of key players like Nagal and Yuki Bhambri weakened the team’s chances in the World Group I contest held in Stockholm.

Captain Rohit Rajpal had to field doubles player N Sriram Balaji for the opening singles. Ramkumar Ramanathan was the only experienced player available, while two others, Aryan Shah and Siddharth Vishwakarma, were making their debuts. Niki Poonacha, who has limited experience, primarily focuses on doubles, leaving India with only one dedicated singles player.

Sumit Nagal had excused himself from the tie, citing back problems, while Yuki did not explain his absence. However, Nagal is set to play at the ATP250 event in Hangzhou, where he is drawn to meet a qualifier in the first round.

AITA’s Reaction to Sumit Nagal’s Decision

Dhupar expressed disappointment, saying, “If Sumit and Yuki had played, we would have had better chances. Sumit Nagal said he had a back issue, but now he’s playing in China. Someone needs to clarify what’s really happening.”

When asked about Mukund Sasikumar, who had been suspended by AITA, Dhupar revealed that Captain Rajpal made repeated efforts to include him in the team. Rajpal even offered to appeal to the executive committee to lift Mukund’s suspension, but Mukund refused to join.

Following India’s defeat, Sumit Nagal along with former players Somdev Devvarman and Purav Raja, questioned AITA’s management. Nagal also criticized the positioning of AITA officials in front rows during pre-tie events in Sweden while players stood behind them.

AITA’s Stand on Davis Cup Representation

AITA released a statement on Twitter, emphasizing that representing India in the Davis Cup is about more than just tennis; it’s about honor, national pride, and inspiring future athletes. They criticized players like Sumit Sumit Nagal, Yuki Bhambri, and Mukund Sasikumar for refusing to represent India despite playing in other tournaments.

AITA also highlighted its contributions to Indian tennis, stating that it had organized 829 tournaments for players in the 2023 season and conducted courses for coach development, with 130 new coaches registering for the 2024 season.

In response to criticism, Dhupar said, “I’m not trying to prove a point; we have done significant work, including organizing many tournaments. Davis Cup is not just any tournament; it’s a matter of national pride. Every Indian player should participate if selected. Sumit Nagal said he was injured, but now he’s playing in Hangzhou. My good wishes are with him, but let the people of India decide what they think.”

Regarding Mukund’s refusal to participate, Dhupar added, “This is not the first time Mukund has refused. He has declined three times. We have done our best to bring them on board. If they don’t want to play, what can we do?”

Dhupar concluded by acknowledging the criticism following the loss but noted that a new committee would take charge in October and make decisions on future actions.

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