Sumit Nagal qualifies for the Paris 2024 Olympics in men's singles, achieving his second consecutive Olympic appearance following Tokyo 2020, bolstered by recent victories and a rise in ATP rankings.
In Short:
- Sumit Nagal secures spot in men's singles at Paris 2024 Olympics.
- Second Olympic appearance for Nagal after Tokyo 2020.
- Nagal's journey from Challenger victories to Olympic qualification.
- Indian representation also includes Bopanna-Balaji duo in men's doubles.
Indian tennis sensation Sumit Nagal has clinched his place in the men's singles event at the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics, marking a significant milestone in his career. This will be Nagal's second consecutive appearance at the Olympic Games, following his debut in Tokyo 2020 where he reached the second round. Expressing his joy on social media, Nagal shared, "I am thrilled to announce my official qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Olympics hold a special place in my heart!"
Reflecting on his journey, Nagal added, "Participating in the Tokyo Olympics was a highlight of my career. Since then, aiming for Paris has been a major goal for me. I am eager to give my best performance." The All India Tennis Association (AITA) confirmed Nagal's qualification based on the ITF's rankings review on June 10, where he was named as an alternate.
Joining Nagal in representing India at the Paris Olympics will be the men's doubles team of Rohan Bopanna and N Sriram Balaji. Bopanna, a seasoned top-10 player, chose Balaji as his partner, a decision endorsed by the AITA. Nagal's Olympic qualification was buoyed by his recent victory at the Heilbronn Challenger earlier this month, which propelled him into the top 80 of the ATP singles rankings. This triumph marks Nagal's second Challenger title of the season, following his win at the Chennai Challenger earlier this year.
Nagal's confirmation for Paris came as higher-ranked players withdrew from the Olympics. The International Tennis Federation is set to publish the official entry list on July 4, which will feature Nagal among the participants. The tennis competitions at the Paris Olympics are scheduled to take place at Roland Garros, renowned venue of the French Open, from July 27 to August 4.
At just 26 years old, Nagal joins a select group of Indian players to qualify for the singles event in consecutive Summer Games, following in the footsteps of Leander Paes, who competed from 1992 to 2000. Paes famously secured a bronze medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, marking India's second individual Olympic medal in history.
Throughout the 2024 season, Nagal has demonstrated remarkable progress. He successfully qualified for the main draw of the Australian Open, advancing to the second round with an impressive victory over then-world number 37 Alexander Bublik. Additionally, Nagal secured berths in the main draws of prestigious ATP 1000 events such as the Indian Wells Masters and Monte-Carlo Masters.