Indian tennis legend Rohan Bopanna has strongly criticised the decision to trim India’s tennis squad for the upcoming Asian Games 2026, arguing that athletes should be allowed to prove their ability on the court rather than being judged primarily on their projected medal prospects.
The Sports Ministry removed Manas Dhamne, Vaishnavi Adkar, Sahaja Yamalapalli, Vaidehee Chaudhari and Prarthana Thombare from the list of 12 players submitted by the All India Tennis Association (AITA).
The decision has attracted particular attention because Sahaja Yamalapalli, currently India’s highest-ranked women’s singles player, was among those left out of the final squad.
Bopanna questions selection criteria
Reacting to the decision in a LinkedIn post, Bopanna said the five players had earned their rankings through performances in international competitions and deserved an opportunity to represent the country.
“I’m a proud Indian. And today, I want to speak up for these tennis players who deserve better. They didn’t ask for mercy. They asked for a chance,” Bopanna said.
The former doubles world No. 1 pointed out that the players had competed internationally and established their rankings through their performances.
“Dhamne. Adkar. Yamalapalli. Vaidehee. Thombare. Five players — including India’s No. 1 and No. 2 in women’s singles, who earned their rankings the hard way. No shortcuts. No favours. They competed internationally, qualified and proved where they stand,” he wrote.
‘If outcomes are already decided, why have rankings?’
Bopanna also questioned the rationale behind selection decisions based on predicted medal prospects.
“If outcomes are already decided, why have qualifications at all? Why rankings?” he asked.
He said the issue went beyond the five players affected, arguing that such decisions could also send a message to the families and sponsors who invest in athletes based on their talent and results.
“This isn’t just a call about five athletes. It’s a message to every parent, every sponsor who backed them before the country did, who bet on merit and results, not on being pre-approved,” Bopanna said.
India’s final Asian Games tennis squad
Following the cuts, India’s final tennis contingent comprises seven players.
Men’s singles: Sumit Nagal, Dhakshineswar Suresh
Men’s doubles: Yuki Bhambri, N Sriram Balaji, Anirudh Chandrasekhar
Women: Ankita Raina and Ruturaj Bhosale
Bopanna argued that athletes should be given the opportunity to compete before their medal chances are assessed.
“Let them walk onto the court. Let their years of work count for something. Let sport decide. Not a spreadsheet,” he said.
His comments have added significant weight to the ongoing debate over merit, rankings and medal prospects in India’s selection process for major international sporting events.
