New Delhi, Sep 17 (PTI) – The All India Tennis Association (AITA) has raised concerns over the absence of the nation’s top player, Sumit Nagal, from the recent Davis Cup tie against Sweden. Despite claiming an injury, Nagal is now slated to participate in an ATP tournament in China, sparking controversy within the tennis community.

India suffered a significant 0-4 defeat at the hands of Sweden in the World Group I contest held in Stockholm. AITA secretary Anil Dhupar emphasized that the absence of key players like Sumit Nagal and Yuki Bhambri severely impacted the national team’s performance and chances of success.

In the absence of these top players, team captain Rohit Rajpal had to field doubles specialist N Sriram Balaji in the opening singles match. Ramkumar Ramanathan was the only experienced singles player on the squad. The other team members, Aryan Shah and Siddharth Vishwakarma, were making their debuts, while Niki Pooancha, who primarily focuses on doubles, was relatively inexperienced with only one tie under his belt.

Effectively, India was left with just one seasoned singles player. Nagal had cited a back injury for opting out of the Davis Cup tie, while Yuki Bhambri did not provide a specific reason for his absence. However, Nagal has now registered for the ATP250 event in Hangzhou, where he is set to face a Qualifier in his opening round.

Dhupar expressed frustration over the situation, stating, “If Sumit and Yuki had participated, our chances would have been significantly better. They questioned AITA’s management and the team’s leadership. Sumit claimed he had a back problem, but now he is fit enough to play in China. This needs to be communicated clearly to everyone.”

Regarding Mukund Sasikumar, who was already suspended by AITA, Dhupar revealed that captain Rajpal made numerous efforts to reinstate him for the Davis Cup tie. “The captain called him multiple times and promised to request the executive committee to revoke his suspension. Despite this, Mukund refused to play,” Dhupar explained.

Following India’s disappointing loss, both Nagal and former players Somdev Devvarman and Purav Raja criticized AITA’s functioning. Nagal also questioned why AITA officials stood in the front row while players were positioned in the back row during the pre-tie ceremonies against Sweden.

In response to these criticisms, AITA released a statement on its Twitter handle highlighting that representing India in the Davis Cup goes beyond tennis. “It is about honor, national pride, and inspiring future generations of athletes. Despite our efforts to convince them, players like Sumit Nagal, Yuki Bhambri, and Mukund Sasikumar chose to play other tournaments instead of representing their country.”

AITA also published a list of its achievements, noting that it conducted 829 tournaments during the 2023 season for the players’ benefit and organized several coaching courses that led to 130 new coaches registering for the 2024 season.

When asked about AITA’s statement, Dhupar clarified, “We are not trying to make a point but rather to inform people about our efforts. The Davis Cup is a prestigious event, and every Indian player selected should participate. Nagal claimed a back injury but is now competing in Hangzhou Open. Let the public judge.”

Dhupar also mentioned Mukund’s repeated refusals to join the team and stated that AITA has faced undue criticism for the loss against Sweden. “A new committee will be formed in early October, which will decide future actions,” he added.

PTI reached out to Sumit Nagal, Yuki Bhambri, and Mukund Sasikumar for their comments, but all three declined to respond.