The Indian tennis team will return from the Asian Games without a medal for the first time since 1986. Sumit Nagal’s men’s singles quarter-final exit ended India’s challenge at the Games. After the medal contending doubles teams were eliminated on Wednesday itself, India’s hopes rested on the number one player in singles ranking, Sumit.
He lost to China’s Yibing Wu 4-6, 4-6 in a match that lasted one hour and 38 minutes. India has won medals in tennis at every Asian Games since 1990 and at least three medals were expected this time too. Last time, Pragnesh Gunneswaran and Ankita Raina had won medals for India in the singles category. Both of them had won bronze medals in the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta.
Yuki Bhambri and N Sriram Balaji also disappointed
India did not get a medal in singles in the 2023 Games in Hangzhou. Rohan Bopanna and Divij Sharan won the men’s doubles gold in 2018 and Rutuja Bhosale along with Rohan Bopanna won the mixed doubles gold in 2023. Medals were expected from Yuki Bhambri and N Sriram Balaji, but they were eliminated after losing in men’s doubles and mixed doubles.