Asian Games: Rohan Bopanna will lead a nine-member Indian Tennis squad at the upcoming Asian Games. Doubles specialist Bopanna will be the flag-bearer of India’s medal hopes especially after his runner-up finish at the US Open recently. Ankita Raina meanwhile will lead the Women’s team. The Asian Games will get underway at Hangzhou, China from 23rd September 2023.
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Men’s Team
The Men’s team comprises a total of five members. Besides Bopanna, the squad features India’s No.1 singles player Sumit Nagal, Yuki Bhambri, Ramkumar Ramanathan and Saketh Myneni.
It remains unclear on who will partner Rohan Bopanna in the Men’s Doubles. While Ramkumar Ramanathan emerge as a front-runner since Yuki Bhambri and Saketh Myneni are the regular doubles partner. However it could be changed before the Asian Games.
Sumit Nagal meanwhile is the only Indian ranked within the Top 200 in the ATP Rankings. He will lead India’s challenge in the singles. India will however miss Prajnesh Gunneswaran, who won the bronze medal in singles in the previous edition of the Asian Games. However he has been struggling with injuries this season and has failed to make the cut to the squad.
Squad
Men’s Team: Rohan Bopanna, Sumit Nagal, Yuki Bhambri, Saketh Myneni, Ramkumar Ramanathan
Women’s Team
The four-member Indian Women’s team will be spearheaded by Ankita Raina. The 30-year old has been in good form this season. The World No.189 made it until the third round of the US Open qualifiers much recently. 25-year old Karman Thandi will also headline action in the Women’s Singles.
The team also has Rutuja Bhosle and Prarthana Thombare. They are likely to partner either of Ankita Raina or Karman Kaur Thandi in the Women’s Doubles.
Squad
Women’s Team: Ankita Raina, Karman Kaur Thandi, Rutuja Bhosle, Prarthana Thombare
Performance in 2018 Asian Games
In the previous edition of the Asian Games at Jakarta, India clinched three medals in total in Tennis. Rohan Bopanna and Divij Sharan won the gold medal in Men’s Doubles. Meanwhile in Singles, Ankita Raina and Prajnesh Gunneswaran clinched the bronze medals. India will hope to better the show this time around. However the contingent will face a big challenge from higher-ranked players in China, Japan and Kazakhstan.
