India’s tennis campaign at the Asian Games ended without a medal on Thursday, with Sumit Nagal‘s quarterfinal defeat bringing the curtains down on a disappointing outing for the country.Nagal, India’s top-ranked singles player, was the last Indian left in the medal race after the doubles pairs were knocked out on Wednesday. But the 29-year-old lost 4-6, 4-6 to China’s Yibing Wu in one hour and 38 minutes.It means India will return from the Asian Games without a tennis medal for the first time since 1986.Since 1990, India had won at least one tennis medal at every edition of the continental event. This time, however, the country could not continue that run despite entering the competition with hopes of winning at least three medals.
Nagal’s exit ends India’s hopes
Nagal had carried India’s singles hopes into the quarterfinal after beating Hong in the previous round and then overcoming Fomin. But Wu proved too strong for the Indian, who fought hard but could not convert his chances.India coach Ashutosh Singh said the team wanted better results, especially given the experience in the squad.“We obviously would have wanted stronger results, particularly given the quality and experience within the team.”Singh admitted that the competition was “extremely high” but felt India’s singles players needed to make more of their opportunities.“Sumit Nagal competed hard in his matches. First beating Hong for the first time in his career, then overcoming Fomin, he did what was required. Even today, Sumit managed to create multiple opportunities but somehow was unable to convert them.“DK (Dhakshineswar) has shown his playing level on the Tour but needs more work to sustain his short bursts into good performance through a physically demanding multiple week national campaign if he sees himself as being the torch bearer of the team,” Singh said.
Doubles pairs also fall short
India had hoped that its doubles players would keep the country’s medal tradition alive after Nagal’s exit.However, Yuki Bhambri and N Sriram Balaji also failed to reach the podium.Balaji and Anirudh Chandrasekar, as well as Bhambri and Dhakshineswar Suresh, lost in the quarterfinals. Dhakshineswar had also exited in the third round of the men’s singles. The women’s doubles and mixed doubles combinations also could not convert their opportunities into medals.Talking about the doubles, Singh said, Bhambri and Bhosale got a tough Taipei team.“The doubles combinations were finalised based on the overall team requirements and the performances and circumstances leading into the event. Unfortunately, we could not convert that opportunity into medals.“Yuki and Rutuja were beaten by the Grand Slam champion Hseih who brought all her high level experience and her partner too was playing very attacking tennis.”Singh added,” As a team, we take responsibility for the results. There is no point in looking for excuses. At the same time, a proper assessment has to consider the conditions, scheduling, preparation and the quality of opposition rather than looking only at the final scorelines.”
India had a strong medal tradition
India’s last singles medals at the Asian Games came in 2018, when Prajnesh Gunneswaran and Ankita Raina won bronze medals in Jakarta. The country also had a major doubles presence through Rohan Bopanna, who rose to the world No. 1 ranking and helped India win gold medals at the Asian Games.After Bopanna’s retirement, the responsibility was expected to be carried by players such as Bhambri and Balaji. But neither could make it to the podium in Japan.India also missed out on singles medals at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, where Nagal lost in the quarterfinals and Ramkumar Ramanathan went out in the third round.
Focus turns to the next generation
Nagal is already 29, which means he will be 33 when the next Asian Games are held in Doha in 2030. The result has once again brought the focus on India’s next generation of tennis players and the need to prepare them for the international stage.AITA interim Secretary General Sunder Iyer said the players had given their best but accepted that the federation needs to do more.“Players have tried to do their best. We reached three quarter-finals and were close to medals. As an association we need to see how to give more support to our players, juniors and professionals enabling them to do better,” Iyer told PTI.
Coach praises team spirit
Despite the disappointing results, Singh said the players remained together throughout the campaign. The coach signed off by acknowledging “the way the players stayed together as a group.”“There were difficult moments, selections and combinations that naturally bring pressure but the team maintained professionalism and supported one another throughout the campaign,” he said.
