Wed Oct 02 07:20:52 UTC 2024: ## Indian Tennis Star Sumit Nagal Out of Shanghai Masters, Dispute with AITA Continues
**Shanghai, China -** Sumit Nagal, India’s top singles player, was eliminated from the Shanghai Masters on Wednesday after a straight-set loss to China’s Wu Yibing. The 27-year-old’s tournament exit comes amidst an ongoing public dispute with the All India Tennis Association (AITA) regarding his participation in the Davis Cup.
Nagal has been in the spotlight recently following his decision to withdraw from the Davis Cup tie against Sweden, citing a back injury. However, AITA claims that Nagal demanded an annual fee of USD 50,000 to play for India in the Davis Cup. Nagal has denied the claim, stating that it’s “standard practice” for athletes to receive compensation for participating in events, even when representing their country.
“Regarding compensation, I want to clarify that it is standard practice in professional sports for athletes to be compensated for their participation in events, even when representing their country,” Nagal wrote in a social media statement. “This is not about personal gain.”
AITA Secretary Anil Dhupar countered Nagal’s statement, saying, “Let the country decide if it is right or not. Then, it is the decision of the government and everybody. The players are also paid by TOPS. And it’s not that they don’t get paid for playing the Davis Cup. They do get paid.”
The dispute between Nagal and AITA has sparked debate within the Indian tennis community, with the public left wondering if financial compensation should be a factor when representing the country in international competitions. The controversy continues to cast a shadow over Indian tennis, with the future of Nagal’s participation in the Davis Cup remaining uncertain.
First Piper 