Tennis news: Sports Authority of India cracks the whip, orders tennis players to prioritise nation or lose funding

The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has issued a directive emphasizing that tennis players receiving financial assistance through various government support schemes must prioritise representing the nation.

According to the order, players who refuse to play for India without valid justification will face recovery of the funds granted to them.The order specifically targets athletes selected under the Target Asian Games Group (TAGG), which was launched earlier this year to boost India’s medal prospects at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan. Players benefiting from TAGG, as well as the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) and the National Sports Federation (NSF) support, are required to submit a written undertaking confirming their commitment to represent India in prestigious international events such as the Billie Jean King Cup, Davis Cup, Asian Games, and Olympics.“The above tennis competitions hold significant national pride. Therefore, it is important that all players benefiting from the support, provided under these schemes prioritise representing India if selected by the All India Tennis Association (AITA),” the SAI order stated. It further warns that any player who declines selection without valid reasons will have to repay the financial assistance received so far.

This move comes amid several instances in recent years where top Indian players have opted out of Davis Cup ties. Notably, Sumit Nagal skipped matches against Pakistan, Sweden, and Togo, while Sasikumar Mukund and Yuki Bhambri also made themselves unavailable for certain ties. The SAI’s order appears aimed at holding players accountable and ensuring stronger national team participation.

Among those included in TAGG are prominent names like Sumit Nagal, Yuki Bhambri, Ramkumar Ramanathan, N Sriram Balaji, Saketh Myneni, and Rithvik Bollipalli on the men’s side.

The women’s list features top-ranked players such as Shrivali Bhamidipati, Sahaja Yamlapalli, Vaidehi Chaudhary, Rutuja Bhosale, and young talent Maaya Rajeshwaran.

India’s Davis Cup captain Rohit Rajpal welcomed the directive, telling PTI, “The government wanted the players to be accountable and there is nothing wrong in it. The government has added players names for support but it also wants them to be available for national duty when required.”

Billie Jean King Cup skipper Vishal Uppal echoed this sentiment, calling it “an excellent move.” He added, “Representing India, our great nation is the biggest honour and should be non negotiable specially if you receive government support.

”The SAI’s order reflects a broader effort to ensure that financial aid translates into national pride and commitment, reinforcing the importance of representing India on the international stage. This approach aims to strengthen India’s tennis teams and encourage players to honour their responsibilities as beneficiaries of government support.