India’s top-ranked tennis player, Sumit Nagal is included in the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) core list. Joining Nagal are para athletes Soman Rana (Men’s shot put F57), Bhagyashri Jadhav (women’s shot put F34), Rampal (women’s 100m T12), Simran (women’s 200m T12), Simran (women’s 200m T12), and the 2024 Paris Olympic quota place winner Anush Agarwalla.

The TOPS, a flagship program of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, aims to support India’s top athletes. The scheme, launched in 2014 and revamped in 2018, focuses on Olympic medal prospects, assisting with training, international competitions, foreign training, equipment, coaching camps, and a monthly stipend of ₹50,000 for each athlete.

The rise of Sumit Nagal

Sumit Nagal, India’s top-ranked tennis player, has been making waves in the international tennis circuit. He broke into the top 100 of the world rankings for the first time in February 2024, becoming the 10th Indian player to achieve this feat. This achievement came after Nagal won the Chennai Open ATP Challenger title.

Nagal, seeded 2nd, defeated top seed Luca Nardi of Italy 6-1, 6-4 in an hour and 41 minutes at the SDAT Tennis Stadium in Chennai. This victory marked his 5th Challenger title, and his second one at home. Nagal’s inclusion in the TOPS core list will provide him with the necessary support to further his career and bring laurels to the country.

In January, Nagal beat world number 27 Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan in straight sets to enter the Australian Open second round for the first time in his career. Nagal’s win at the Australian Open was the first time in 35 years that an Indian beat a seeded player in a Grand Slam.

Anush Agarwalla’s Historic Feat

Anush Agarwalla secured a historic quota for India in dressage, marking India’s first Olympic quota in this discipline. Dressage, a highly skilled form of riding performed in exhibitions and competitions, requires both the rider and horse to combine the strength and agility of gymnastics with the elegance and beauty of ballet. The precision of movements in dressage showcases the perfect harmony between horse and rider.

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