Only 900 Euros left in my account, not able to live a good life: Sumit Nagal

After arranging a budget of Rs 1 crore to play in the ATP Tour, India’s number one tennis player Sumit Nagal now has less than Rs 1 lakh left in his bank account and is sad about not being able to live a good life. . He had been practicing at the Nansel Tennis Academy in Germany for the last few years but due to lack of funds, he could not practice at his favorite venue in the first three months of the 2023 season. His friends Somdev Devvarman and Christopher Marquis helped him in January and February.

Struggling with financial problems is probably the story of every Indian tennis player but the fact that the country’s number one singles player is not able to raise enough money for himself and his family reflects the ineffective system and the struggle associated with the ATP Tour where The player has to fight his own battle. Nagal has spent all his prize money, his salary from IOCL and assistance from Maha Tennis Foundation to play in the ATP Tour. His expenses cover his stay at the practice center in Pine and traveling to tournaments with his coach or physio.

Nagal told PTI, “If I talk about the amount deposited in my bank, I have the same amount as it was at the beginning of the year.” It is 900 Euro (approximately Rs 80000). I also got some help. Prashant Sutar of Maha Tennis Foundation is helping me and I also get a monthly (salary) from IOCL but I do not have any big sponsor.

Nagal participated in 24 tournaments this year from which he earned approximately Rs 65 lakh. His biggest prize money came from the US Open where he lost in the first round of qualifiers but still got US$22000 (approximately Rs 18 lakh). He said, “I am spending whatever I am earning. My annual expenditure ranges from around Rs 80 lakh to Rs 1 crore and this is even when I travel with only one coach. I spent whatever I earned.”

Nagal said, “I feel that despite being India’s number one player for the last few years, I am not getting enough support. I am the only Indian player to qualify for the Grand Slam and I also won a match in the Olympics last year, yet the government has not included me in the TOPS.” He said, ”I think due to injury. When my ranking fell, no one thought it appropriate to help me. Nobody believed that I could make a comeback. It’s frustrating because I feel like no matter what I do, it’s not enough. It is very difficult to get financial aid in India. Honestly, I don’t know what to do. I have given up.”

Nagal, the son of a primary school teacher in Punjabi Bagh, also had to deal with off-court problems last year. He got his hip operated and also contracted Covid-19 twice. Nagal said, “I have nothing in the name of savings and I am broke.” I can’t say that I am living a very good life where I don’t need to work. I have not earned much in the last two years.” Nagal is ranked 159th in the ATP singles rankings, the best among Indians. After him comes Shashi Kumar Mukund whose world ranking is 407.

Disclaimer: IndiaTheNews has not edited this news. This news has been published from PTI-language feed.