New Delhi, March 12 – The Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) under the Sports Authority of India (SAI) has approved financial assistance for leading Indian tennis players Yuki Bhambri and Sumit Nagal, while also recommending the inclusion of emerging player Dhakshineswar Suresh in the Target Asian Games Group (TAGG).
The decision was made after considering the preparations of Indian tennis players for key events such as the 2026 Asian Games and the second round of the 2026 Davis Cup qualifiers.
"The MOC approved a financial assistance package of Rs 28.89 lakh for Bhambri to support his training and competition schedule from February to September 2026, covering his international schedule spanning 33 weeks (231 days) of ATP and Grand Slam competitions, as well as training on the professional circuit," the ministry said in a release.
"Under TAGG, the approved assistance will support Bhambri for personal physiotherapy services, provided by his physiotherapist Daniel Hatch during training and competition days leading up to key national commitments such as the Davis Cup tie in September and the 2026 Asian Games," it said.
Bhambri has been in excellent form internationally, reaching the Round 3 of the 2026 Australian Open and the semi-finals of the 2025 US Open in doubles competition. He is currently ranked World No. 23 in doubles and Asian No. 1.
The MOC also approved financial assistance of Rs 27.51 lakh for Sumit Nagal to support his international training and competition program from March to October 2026.
Nagal's schedule includes participation in ATP Challenger events, ATP Tour events, ATP Masters 1000 tournaments, Grand Slams such as Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and the US Open, as well as the Davis Cup second round tie and the 2026 Asian Games.
TAGG 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 the crucial training and competition period.
Currently, Nagal, India's No. 1 singles player on the ATP rankings, is ranked World No. 282, with a career-high ranking of 68 in 2024. After returning from injury, he recently reached the Round of 16 in ATP 75 tournaments in Pune and Delhi, and also represented India in the Davis Cup tie against the Netherlands in Bengaluru last month.
Meanwhile, Dhakshineswar Suresh was included in the Target Asian Games Group on the basis of his potential as a strong singles and doubles player for India.
Dhakshineswar has registered six wins over players ranked in the top 200, including a victory against a top-100 opponent, highlighting his ability to compete at higher levels.
During India's recent 2026 Davis Cup Qualifiers victory over the Netherlands in February 2026, Dhakshineswar delivered a standout performance, contributing to all three Indian wins. He won both his singles matches against players ranked World No. 88 and World No. 162, and also partnered with Bhambri to clinch the crucial doubles match.
This victory was historically significant, helping India reach the Davis Cup World Group stage for the first time since 2011, ending a long wait for Indian tennis fans.
With the addition of Dhakshineswar Suresh, 12 tennis players are now supported under the Target Asian Games Group (TAGG) scheme. The scheme, introduced in 2025 by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, is modelled on the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) to provide financial assistance to Asiad medal prospects ahead of the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
