 "Sumit Nagal responds to allegations of refusing to play for India at Davis Cup: 'It was a difficult decision...'")
Sumit Nagal on Thursday issued a clarification after the All India Tennis Association (AITA) criticised the player for not playing India’s Davis Cup tie against Sweden last week. The AITA had raised concerns about the possibility of India’s top-ranked tennis player Nagal deciding to skip the Davis Cup tie. And even though Nagal has claimed that he was absent from the tie due to an injury, he is now set to compete in an ATP competition in China.
India eventually lost the tie against Sweden 0-4, and Anil Dhupar, the AITA secretary, alleged that the absence of important players like Nagal and Yuki Bhambri was the reason behind India’s forgettable outing.
Sumit Nagal issues clarification
The 27-year-old released a long statement on “X” on Thursday in his defence. He said that it was difficult for him to withdraw from the Davis Cup tie, but he took the decision after consulting with the medical team. He added that he could not jeopardise his health and that his participation in the Davis Cup tie without being 100 per cent fit would have hurt his team’s chances.
Nagal in his statement also clarified that he had informed the AITA regarding his “inability” to take part in the Davis Cup tie and that his discussions with the AITA and India captain Rohit Rajpal were confidential. In July, Nagal had represented India at the Paris Olympics where he made a first-round exit in the men’s singles event.
— Sumit Nagal (@nagalsumit) September 19, 2024
Sumit Nagal’s full statement
“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 deeply cherish. However, after consulting the medical team, it became clear that competing while carrying an injury could not only jeopardize my health but also adversely impact the team’s chances. I believe it is better for the team and country to have someone at 100% rather than risking further injury and potentially disrupting the match. I had informed AITA well in advance about by 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.”
“Regarding compensation, I want to clarify that it is standard practice in professional sports for athletes to be compensated for their participation in events, even when representing their country. This is not about personal gain. My discussions with AITA and the Davis Cup Captain are confidential and I would not like to indulge in any speculation about this,” he added.
Nagal further stated that he was “deeply committed” to playing for India. “I am deeply committed to my country and will always give my best whenever I represent it. I look forward to future opportunities to wear the national colors and make my country proud, both on and off the court. Thank you for your understanding and support,” he concluded his statement.
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