Somdev blasts ‘unethical’ AITA over young Nagal

Tribune News Service

A day after an anonymous All India Tennis Association (AITA) official disclosed that Sumit Nagal had been excluded from the team for the Davis Cup tie against New Zealand over disciplinary issues, former player Somdev Devvarman launched a ferocious attack on AITA.

The anonymous official had yesterday alleged that Nagal was dropped from the team because he had consumed alcohol during the tie against South Korea in Chandigarh in July, and brought his girlfriend to the team hotel during the tie against Spain in September. Nagal has denied these allegations.

Devvarman, who retired from tennis less than three weeks ago, criticised the AITA official who had leaked the information about Nagal to the media.

“It is my understanding that our captain Anand Amritraj has dealt with every situation regarding Sumit and his mistakes have not been repeated,” Devvarman wrote in an open letter to AITA. “Is Sumit Nagal perfect? Probably not! He hasn't done things perfectly by any means. But he is a good kid. He is a hard working kid and with the right guidance he has the potential to be a fantastic player for our country.”

How to mentor kids

Devvarman said that if AITA really cared about young players such as Nagal, its officials would have counselled him rather than humiliating him. “Now if you truly have a problem with a 19-year-old, any sensible mature adult would sit him down in a room with some senior players, the captain and if need be the federation representative and explain to him what is acceptable and what is not,” Devvarman wrote. “Doing so over a newspaper that's broadcast throughout the country is hardly a way to teach a young player a lesson.”

AITA unaware?

Devvarman also said that AITA’s officials were unaware that Nagal is going through rehabilitation for a shoulder injury, and thus he wasn’t available to play against New Zealand — thus, it’s incorrect to say that he’s been dropped. “I want to be clear once again. You have not chosen Sumit Nagal for the upcoming tie because Sumit Nagal is NOT available to play,” Devvarman wrote. “How do I know this? Because I have spent two weeks with Sumit in December helping him with his training and his rehab for the current shoulder injury he is recovering from. If you had any interest in your players you should have this information.”

Devvarman said it shows that no one in AITA cares about the players. Devvarman wrote: “It is simply false information and extremely unethical of you to make such statements.”

‘AITA’s single malt party’

Devvarman also revealed how, during a Davis Cup tie in Bengaluru in 2014, AITA officials missed a part of his match that went to five sets because they were getting late for their “single malt party”.

“AITA officials who sat in the front row missed the entire fourth set and most of the 5th as they were getting late for their single malt party down at the club as they thought my match was done and I had no chance of coming back,” Devvarman revealed. “This information certainly didn’t come as a surprise to me. I expect them to be unpolished. I also got a solid whiff of their single malt Scotch as they poured over me with congratulations after the match. Dear readers, what do you think is a plausible scenario here?”

“Dear AITA, don’t you ever ask yourselves, ‘Am I doing things right to truly grow the sport in India? Am I doing things right in supporting the current crop of players and giving them the backing and support they deserve?’ And if you’re doing none of those, why are you going out of your way to hurt young players’ reputations?” Devvarman continued. “We cannot grow as a sporting nation as long as we have such people running sport in our country,” he concluded.