In a surprising turn of events, India’s top women’s singles tennis players—Sahaja Yamalapalli,
Initially, AITA had proposed a robust 12-member tennis team, which included six women. However, the final roster has been trimmed to just seven players, retaining only Ankita Raina and Rutuja Bhosale from the women’s category. Notably, Prarthana Thombare and promising men's singles player Manas Dhamne were also omitted from the list ahead of the Games, scheduled to take place from September 19 to October 4 in Aichi-Nagoya.
Players Express Disappointment
Sahaja, currently ranked 344th in the WTA standings, voiced her disappointment from the Netherlands, where she is competing on the WTA circuit. “I am really shocked and disappointed to hear this. I was very much looking forward to competing in the Asian Games,” she stated. She emphasized the unpredictable nature of multi-sport events, where lower-ranked players can often achieve surprising victories. “If we say that I will compete only when I am a seeded player, then what’s the point of going there?” she questioned, highlighting the importance of participation over ranking.
The AITA had previously advocated for Sahaja’s inclusion, citing her status as the highest-ranked Indian women’s singles player and her recent performances against higher-ranked opponents. The association also noted Vaishnavi’s bronze medal achievement at the FISU World University Games and Vaidehee’s consistent performance on the international stage. Sahaja urged for greater support from administrators, stating, “Have the belief in players because we have the belief in us.”
Concerns Over Medal Prospects
The exclusion of these top players raises concerns about India’s chances in the tennis events at the Asian Games. Even if Ankita is entered in singles, her recent struggles in international competitions could limit India’s medal prospects. AITA’s interim Secretary General, Sunder Iyer, expressed disappointment over the selection criteria, which favors only the top eight players in Asia. He noted, “We tried our best in convincing the authorities to send all the selected players, but they are citing the criteria.”
AITA has made a case for fielding its strongest squad, emphasizing the five medal events available in
