No tennis medal for India at Asian Games for first time in 40 years
India’s tennis marketing campaign on the Asian Games ended with out a medal on Thursday, with Sumit Nagal‘s quarterfinal defeat bringing the curtains down on a disappointing outing for the nation.Nagal, India’s top-ranked singles participant, was the final Indian left within the medal race after the doubles pairs had been knocked out on Wednesday. But the 29-year-old misplaced 4-6, 4-6 to China’s Yibing Wu in a single hour and 38 minutes.It means India will return from the Asian Games with out a tennis medal for the primary time since 1986.Since 1990, India had received at the least one tennis medal at each version of the continental occasion. This time, nonetheless, the nation couldn’t proceed that run regardless of coming into the competitors with hopes of profitable at the least three medals.
Nagal’s exit ends India’s hopes
Nagal had carried India’s singles hopes into the quarterfinal after beating Hong within the earlier spherical after which overcoming Fomin. But Wu proved too robust for the Indian, who fought exhausting however couldn’t convert his possibilities.India coach Ashutosh Singh stated the group needed higher outcomes, particularly given the expertise within the squad.“We clearly would have needed stronger outcomes, significantly given the standard and expertise throughout the group.”Singh admitted that the competitors was “extraordinarily excessive” however felt India’s singles gamers wanted to make extra of their alternatives.“Sumit Nagal competed exhausting in his matches. First beating Hong for the primary time in his profession, then overcoming Fomin, he did what was required. Even as we speak, Sumit managed to create a number of alternatives however by some means was unable to transform them.“DK (Dhakshineswar) has proven his taking part in degree on the Tour however wants extra work to maintain his brief bursts into good efficiency by way of a bodily demanding a number of week nationwide marketing campaign if he sees himself as being the torch bearer of the group,” Singh stated.
Doubles pairs additionally fall brief
India had hoped that its doubles gamers would preserve the nation’s medal custom alive after Nagal’s exit.However, Yuki Bhambri and N Sriram Balaji additionally failed to achieve the rostrum.Balaji and Anirudh Chandrasekar, in addition to Bhambri and Dhakshineswar Suresh, misplaced within the quarterfinals. Dhakshineswar had additionally exited within the third spherical of the lads’s singles. The ladies’s doubles and combined doubles mixtures additionally couldn’t convert their alternatives into medals.Talking concerning the doubles, Singh stated, Bhambri and Bhosale bought a troublesome Taipei group.“The doubles mixtures had been finalised based mostly on the general group necessities and the performances and circumstances main into the occasion. Unfortunately, we couldn’t convert that chance into medals.“Yuki and Rutuja had been overwhelmed by the Grand Slam champion Hseih who introduced all her excessive degree expertise and her companion too was taking part in very attacking tennis.”Singh added,” As a group, we take accountability for the outcomes. There is not any level in on the lookout for excuses. At the identical time, a correct evaluation has to contemplate the situations, scheduling, preparation and the standard of opposition slightly than trying solely on the last scorelines.”
India had a robust medal custom
India’s final singles medals on the Asian Games got here in 2018, when Prajnesh Gunneswaran and Ankita Raina received bronze medals in Jakarta. The nation additionally had a significant doubles presence by way of Rohan Bopanna, who rose to the globe No. 1 rating and helped India win gold medals on the Asian Games.After Bopanna’s retirement, the accountability was anticipated to be carried by gamers similar to Bhambri and Balaji. But neither may make it to the rostrum in Japan.India additionally missed out on singles medals on the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, the place Nagal misplaced within the quarterfinals and Ramkumar Ramanathan went out within the third spherical.
Focus turns to the subsequent technology
Nagal is already 29, which implies he will likely be 33 when the subsequent Asian Games are held in Doha in 2030. The consequence has as soon as once more introduced the give attention to India’s subsequent technology of tennis gamers and the necessity to put together them for the global stage.AITA interim Secretary General Sunder Iyer stated the gamers had given their greatest however accepted that the federation must do extra.“Players have tried to do their greatest. We reached three quarter-finals and had been near medals. As an affiliation we have to see find out how to give extra help to our gamers, juniors and professionals enabling them to do higher,” Iyer advised PTI.
Coach praises group spirit
Despite the disappointing outcomes, Singh stated the gamers remained collectively all through the marketing campaign. The coach signed off by acknowledging “the best way the gamers stayed collectively as a bunch.”“There had been tough moments, picks and mixtures that naturally carry strain however the group maintained professionalism and supported each other all through the marketing campaign,” he stated.
