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With a little more than a week remaining for the Paris Olympics 2024, tennis star Ankita Raina has lauded Olympic-bound Rohan Bopanna and Sumit Nagal. India have not seen a lot of success in tennis at the Olympics since 1996, but the athletes will look to change the narrative. The Indian tennis contingent at this year's Summer Games will be spearheaded by Bopanna and Nagal.
Tennis at the Paris Olympics will start on July 27. Having already represented India at two Olympics, Bopanna, who won his first doubles Grand Slam at the Australian Open 2024, will once again represent the country alongside Sriram Balaji. Nagal will take part in the men’s singles category.
Speaking to Hindustan Times, Raina recently said:
"I think it's huge. I would say that we've already seen that. A lot of players have mentioned it, and you know, how it has motivated them. I feel that having, you know, an Indian flag bearer at the highest level, even if we've had Sania and Leander before. So I think it has impacted the sport somewhere or the other, and I think it will keep doing that. It will keep promoting and inspiring more and more."
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"There should be more opportunities for tournaments, you know, events in India, and events where the Indian players are able to participate in and qualify for them. I think that will make a huge difference," she added.
A look at Rohan Bopanna and Sumit Nagal's performances in 2024
2024 has turned out to be a great year for Indian tennis stars Rohan Bopanna and Sumit Nagal. Bopanna rose to the top of the men's doubles rankings. He became the oldest World No. 1 in men's doubles and the oldest Australian Open winner at the age of 43. The star player went on to become the oldest (44 years old) ATP Masters 1000 finalist and champion, winning this year's Miami Open.
Nagal has been in top form this year in preparation for the Paris Olympics 2024, as he achieved a career-high singles rank of 68. Nagal won the Chennai Open ATP Challenger and entered the top 100 of the ATP rankings for the first time. In addition, he created history by debuting in the French Open and Wimbledon. Nagal became the first Indian player in five years (since Prajnesh Gunneswaran in 2019) to compete in the Wimbledon men's singles main event.
