New Delhi, March 12 (NationPress) The Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) associated with the Sports Authority of India (SAI) has sanctioned financial support for prominent Indian tennis athletes Yuki Bhambri and Sumit Nagal. Additionally, the inclusion of rising talent Dhakshineswar Suresh in the Target Asian Games Group (TAGG) has been recommended.

The decision considers the preparation of Indian tennis players for critical events ahead, including the Asian Games 2026 and the second round of the Davis Cup 2026 qualifiers.

According to a ministry release, "The MOC has approved a funding package of Rs 28.89 lakh for Bhambri to back his training and competition schedule from February to September 2026. This encompasses his international agenda, which spans 33 weeks (231 days) across ATP and Grand Slam tournaments, along with training on the professional circuit."

"As part of TAGG, the financial assistance will facilitate Bhambri’s personal physiotherapy services, provided by his physiotherapist Daniel Hatch during training and competitive periods leading up to significant national events like the Davis Cup tie in September and the Asian Games 2026," the statement added.

Bhambri is currently in outstanding form on the international tennis scene, having advanced to the Round 3 at the 2026 Australian Open and reached the semi-finals in doubles at the 2025 US Open. He holds the World No. 23 ranking in doubles and is recognized as the Asian No. 1.

In addition, the MOC has allocated Rs 27.51 lakh for Sumit Nagal to facilitate his international training and competition plans from March to October 2026.

Nagal's calendar includes participation in ATP Challenger events, ATP Tour events, ATP Masters 1000 tournaments, and Grand Slams such as Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and the US Open, alongside the Davis Cup second round tie and the Asian Games 2026.

The TAGG has recommended Nagal’s coaching support for 70 days from March to May 2026 through the Nensel Academy Tennis School, with coaches Sascha Nensel and Milos Galecic guiding the 28-year-old during this pivotal training and competition timeframe.

Currently ranked as India’s No. 1 singles player in the ATP rankings, Nagal sits at World No. 282, having reached a career-high ranking of 68 in 2024. After a recent injury, he has made a strong comeback, reaching the Round of 16 in ATP 75 tournaments held in Pune and Delhi, and represented India in the Davis Cup tie against the Netherlands in Bengaluru last month.

Furthermore, the addition of Dhakshineswar Suresh to the Target Asian Games Group is based on his promising potential as a strong singles and doubles player for India.

Dhakshineswar has achieved six victories over players ranked within the top 200, including a notable win against a top-100 opponent, showcasing his capabilities to compete at elevated levels.

In the recent Davis Cup 2026 Qualifiers where India triumphed over the Netherlands in February 2026, Dhakshineswar played a crucial role, contributing to all three Indian victories. He achieved wins in both his singles matches against players ranked World No. 88 and World No. 162, and partnered with Bhambri to secure a vital doubles match.

This victory marked a historic moment as it propelled India into the Davis Cup World Group stage for the first time since 2011, ending a long-standing wait for Indian tennis enthusiasts.

With Dhakshineswar Suresh's inclusion, the TAGG now supports a total of 12 tennis players. The scheme, launched in 2025 by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, is based on the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) to provide financial aid to potential Asiad medalists ahead of the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.