AITA questions Sumit Nagal's absence in Davis Cup after he signs up for ATP event in China
Sumit Nagal was not present during India's recent Davis Cup tie against Sweden. The All India Tennis Association (AITA) has raised questions about the absence of India's top tennis player, who claimed to be suffering from a back injury.
Sumit Nagal missed the tie in Stockholm, where India faced a crushing 0-4 defeat. However, he is now going to participate in an ATP event in Hangzhou, China, casting doubt on the legitimacy of his injury claim.
India’s 0-4 loss to Sweden in the World Group I contest of the Davis Cup was a significant setback for the national team. AITA secretary Anil Dhupar expressed his disappointment at the absence of top players like Sumit Nagal and Yuki Bhambri, which he believes severely impacted India’s chances.
Sumit Nagal opted out of the Davis Cup tie, citing a back injury, while Yuki Bhambri chose not to specify any reason for his absence. However, Nagal’s entry into the ATP 250 tournament in Hangzhou, where he is scheduled to play a qualifier in the opening round, has raised eyebrows within the AITA.
Dhupar questioned the sudden recovery of Nagal, stating that the injury claim may not have been as serious as initially suggested.
“Definitely, if Sumit and Yuki had played, we would have had far 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 understand the right thing,” Dhupar was quoted as saying by PTI.
Dhupar responds to criticism from Sumit Nagal and other former players
Following India’s defeat, Sumit, along with former players Somdev Devvarman and Purav Raja, publicly criticized the functioning of the AITA.
Dhupar responded to Nagal’s comments with a hint of sarcasm:
“He (Nagal) said that he had a back injury and now he has entered this Hangzhou Open. He has become alright. My good wishes to him. Let the country decide. Let the people of India decide.”
While Dhupar acknowledged the criticism AITA has faced following the defeat, he labeled it as “unnecessary.” He further added that a new committee, set to take charge in early October, would be responsible for making decisions regarding the team’s future and handling any issues going forward.
“The new committee is going to be coming in the first week of October. They will decide what is to be done,” he concluded.