NEW DELHI: The All India Tennis Association (AITA) on Tuesday announced the 12-member squad for the upcoming Asian Games in Hangzhou, which will commence on September 23.
Doubles specialist Rohan Bopanna will once again carry the hopes of India, alongside other talented players.
The men's team includes Sumit Nagal, Sasikumar Mukund, Ramkumar Ramanathan, Yuki Bhambri, Saketh Myneni, and the experienced 43-year-old Bopanna, who will lead the charge.
Ankita Raina, the previous Asian Games bronze medallist in singles, will lead the women's contingent. The team also comprises Karman Kaur Thandi, Rututaj Bhosle, Sahaja Yamlapalli, Vaidehi Chaudhari, and Prarthane Thombare, as stated by AITA in a media statement.
In the 2018 Asian Games held in Jakarta, India secured a gold and two bronze medals. Bopanna, in partnership with Divij Sharan, clinched the doubles gold by defeating Kazakhstan's Alexander Bublik and Denis Yevseyev. Prajnesh Gunneswaran had also won a bronze medal in the men's singles.
The Asian Games-bound contingent will be led by former Indian player Rohit Rajpal as the captain of the team, with Ankita Bhambri taking on the role of captain for the women's team.
"The chairman of the (AITA) Professional Selection Committee, Nandan Bal, after considering valuable suggestions from the committee members and team captains, recommended the names of the players," the statement added.
