Rohan Bopanna and Ankita to lead Indian challenge at Asian Games
New Delhi. Doubles specialist Rohan Bopanna will once again be the flag bearer of Indian hopes in the tennis event at the Asian Games. The All India Tennis Association (AITA) on Tuesday announced a 12-member squad for the Games. The Asian Games begin in Hangzhou on September 23. Besides the 43-year-old Bopanna, the men’s team includes Sumit Nagal, Sasikumar Mukund, Davis Cup players Ramkumar Ramanathan, Yuki Bhambri and Saketh Myneni. The women’s contingent will be led by Ankita Raina, a singles bronze medalist from the last Asian Games. The other members of the team are Karman Kaur Thandi, Ruturaj Bhosle, Sahaja Yamalapalli, Vaidehi Chowdhary and Prarthana Thombare, according to an AITA statement.
India had won a gold and two bronze medals at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta with Bopanna and Divij Sharan winning the doubles gold after defeating Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bulbik and Denis Yevseyev. Prajnesh Gunneswaran won the bronze medal in men’s singles. Former Indian player Rohit Rajpal was appointed captain while Ankita Bhambri will captain the women’s team. According to the statement, “Chairman of the Professional Selection Committee (AITA) Nandan Bal recommended the names of the players after considering the important suggestions of the committee members and team captains.
