New Delhi: Sumit Nagal, who challenged India's rising tennis star and world top player Roger Federer at the US Open, has accused the government of neglect. Nagal said that now he needs financial support but people are running away from him. Nagal made it to the finals of two tournaments of the Challenger circuit after the US Open. The 22-year-old, who won the Buenos Aires Challenger on Sunday, improved his position in the ATP rankings by 26 places to reach 135th position.
He is the second-best Indian player in the ranking after Prajnesh Gunneswaran (84). He had neither a coach nor a physio in the Challenger tournament played in Argentina due to financial constraints. Nagal while talking to a news agency from Buenos Aires said, 'I was alone here. No one was here to help me. On one hand it is good that I am playing better tennis but it is not easy and I am very disappointed. I am still single after doing well at the US Open.
At the age of 22, I made it to the main draw and defeated Federer in a set but it had no effect. It is quite disappointing that no one is coming forward to invest in tennis. Sumit made a place in the government's Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) for some time. Financial assistance is provided to the players in this scheme. He was later dropped out of it. Under this scheme, monthly financial assistance of Rs 50,000 is provided to the Olympic medalists.
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