Category: Tennis

After the AITA Chairman slammed the top players for not playing for the country due to their personal issues with the association, Sumit Nagal opens up.

Sumit Nagal gave a clarification stating the absence was due to an injury, although now he is preparing to compete at the ATP tournament in China.

India had endured an embarrassing defeat against Sweden as they lost 4-0, and this was the time when the top players made themselves unavailable.

Sumit Nagal said that it was one of the hardest decisions to make but that it was made after consulting with his medical team. He also added that he didn’t want to take chances with his health and affect the team’s chances by participating with injury.

He also said that this decision was not about any monetary gain. His statement was: “Representing my country is always a privilege and an honor that I hold in the highest regard. One of the highlights of my career was being able to represent India at the Olympics. It was a difficult decision to withdraw from the Davis Cup, as playing for the national team is a moment I cherish deeply.”

“However, after consulting with my medical team, it became clear that competing while carrying an injury could not only jeopardise my health but also adversely impact the team’s chances. I believe it is better for the team and for the country to have someone at 100% rather than risking further injury and potentially disrupting the match. I had informed AITA well in advance about my inability to participate.”

“In professional sports, injury management is a complex science. Sometimes, just a few days of rest and targeted rehabilitation can make the difference between aggravating an injury and being fit to play again. I have been working diligently with my tennis and medical team to ensure I am in the best possible condition to return to the court whenever that would be.”