Sumit Nagal withdrew from the latest Davis Cup match against Sweden due to a back ailment, which also kept him out of the US Open men’s doubles competition last month.
Sumit Nagal, the nation’s top singles player, defended himself on Thursday, claiming that it is “standard practice” for players to be paid for their services. On Thursday, the All India Tennis Association stated that Nagal wanted an annual fee of USD 50,000 to play Davis Cup games for India. Given that he had to withdraw from the US Open men’s doubles competition last month due to a back strain, Nagal has chosen not to play in the most recent Davis Cup match against Sweden.
India’s greatest chance to defeat Sweden at home came with this match, however they were outclassed 0–4 and didn’t have a singles specialist. Despite having a lot of rookies and doubles players, the team lost the World Group I match without even taking a set.
Top players in the nation, including Nagal, Yuki Bhambri, and Sasikumar Mukund, declined to serve their country, according to AITA, which expressed its disapproval with the decision on Tuesday.
Nagal withdrew from the ATP 250 Hangzhou Open, where he was supposed to play on Thursday, citing the same back problem.
“Tell me why a player should ask for money to play for his country. This is a major question. He had sought an annual fee of USD 50,000 (about 45 lakh) and stated that if not paid, he will not play,” Dhupar told PTI.
India is largely relegated to World Group I, with only two ties in a single season — in February and in September.
“Let the country decide if it’s right or wrong. The decision is then up to the government and everyone else. TOPS also pays out to the players. And it’s not as if they’re not compensated for competing in the Davis Cup. “They are paid,” Dhupar asserted.
The prize money that AITA receives from the International Tennis Federation (ITF) for participating in the Davis Cup and distributes to team members was mentioned by the head of AITA.
AITA receives approximately Rs 30 lakh for a World Group I tie, of which 70% is split among the participating players and the remaining 30% is retained by the national federation for the purpose of managing administrative costs.
If there is a lower group tie, the prize money decreases.”No other player asked for additional money over and above their share of the ITF prize money.” A former India Davis Cup player acknowledged to PTI that there had been situations in the past when the country’s top players requested money to play in the Davis Cup, and those requests were met.
Nagal did not reject the AITA claim while defending himself on social media.
“With regard to remuneration, I’d want to emphasize that it is usual practice in professional sports for athletes to be reimbursed for their participation in events, even when representing their country.
“No other player asked for additional money over and above their share of the ITF prize money.” A former India Davis Cup player told PTI that there had been instances in the past where the country’s top players asked money to participate in the Davis Cup, and such requests were granted.
Nagal did not refute the AITA claim while defending himself on social media.
“With regard to remuneration, I’d want to point out that it is common practice in professional sports for athletes to be rewarded for their participation in events, even when representing their country.”This isn’t for selfish gain. My discussions with AITA and the Davis Cup Captain are private, and I would rather not to speculate about them,” he added in his statement.
AITA was outraged that Nagal chose to skip Davis Cup last week due to injuries but “recovered miraculously” to compete in the Hangzhou Open. Nagal withdrew from the ATP 250 competition two days after AITA released their announcement.
AITA was outraged that Nagal chose to skip Davis Cup last week due to injuries but “recovered miraculously” to compete in the Hangzhou Open. Nagal withdrew from the ATP 250 competition two days after AITA released their announcement. Representing the nation has always been, according to Nagal, “a privilege and an honour that I hold in the highest regard.” “Withdrawing from the Davis Cup was a tough decision…But after talking with my medical staff, I realized that fighting with an injury may potentially harm not just my health but also the team’s chances.
“I think having someone at 100% is preferable for the squad and the nation than taking a chance on more injuries and possibly interfering with the game. “I notified AITA well in advance of my inability to take part,” he said, justifying his withdrawal.
It has come to light that captain Rohit Rajpal presented Nagal’s proposal to the AITA Executive Committee, who, despite their initial hesitation, decided to pay Nagal if he renegotiates the amount.
Nevertheless, Nagal pulled out of the tie before a resolution could be achieved, and the conversation came to a close without any resolution.
Nagal criticized AITA on social media during the match, claiming that a large number of them were there merely to enjoy the junkets. He provided another justification for his break.
“Injury management is a complicated science in professional sports. Recovering from an injury and returning to play can sometimes be determined by a few days of rest and focused rehabilitation.” Nagal stated that he was dedicated to the nation.
“I look forward to future opportunities to wear the national colours and make my country proud, both on and off the court.” Nagal had boycotted the match against Pakistan earlier this year, informing team management that the game was being played on grass and his game was more suited to hard surfaces.
Skipper Rajpal has also received criticism on social media, with many questioning his qualifications to captain the Davis Cup.
Rajpal was named captain in 2019 when Mahesh Bhupathi declined to come to Pakistan due to security concerns.
A team executive stated that there was nothing wrong with being paid like a cricketer, but tennis players should also go through a selection procedure.”They play for the Nationals, but do they want contracts? Do athletes like shooters and badminton players join the national team via selection trials? Tennis players receive government funding through TOPS in addition to prize money from the Davis Cup,” he claimed.
