Sumit Nagal from India has qualified for the main draw of the men’s singles event at the Tokyo Olympics, the world governing body ITF has conveyed to the AITA, a reference in the national tennis body told on Friday.
Tennis player @nagalsumit 🎾has qualified for the main draw of the men’s singles event at #Tokyo2020
At 144, he is the highest-ranked Indian player.
Many congratulations!!#Cheer4India pic.twitter.com/afmhne7DRd
— SAI Media (@Media_SAI) July 16, 2021
Nagal was ranked 144 on June 14, when ATP rankings were to be contemplated for straightforward entrances and is the highest-ranked Indian player.
Prajnesh Gunneswaran, another specialist singles player was ranked 148 and it continues to be seen if he cuts the deadline to accept tennis entries which are closing in a few hours from now. The rigid protocols under which the Games are being held and the fear of reaching coronavirus has compelled many withdrawals that kept lowering the cut-off mark.
“We have received a mail from the ITF that Sumit is now eligible. They have asked for his details. We have started the process of getting him in,” an AITA official told PTI. Despite making the cut with his Protected Ranking of 127, Yuki Bhambri is not available because he just went through a procedure on his right knee in the US.
“I won’t be playing,” told Bhambri to PTI. ITF is giving preference to the players of singles players to fill the doubles draw. Nagal’s access would also mean that India can now have a team in the mixed doubles draw too.
