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) during its 169th meeting.
According to a press release issued by SAI Media, the decisions were taken to support Indian tennis players in their preparations for key competitions, including the 2026 Asian Games and the second round of the Davis Cup 2026 Qualifiers.
The MOC approved financial assistance worth Rs 28.89 lakh for Bhambri to support his training and competition schedule from February to September. The funding will cover his international calendar spanning 33 weeks (231 days) of ATP and Grand Slam tournaments, along with training on the professional circuit.
Under the TAGG framework, the approved support will also cover personal physiotherapy services from his physiotherapist, Daniel Hatch, during training and competition periods leading up to key national commitments such as the Davis Cup tie in September and the 2026 Asian Games. Bhambri is currently ranked World No. 23 in doubles and is Asia’s top-ranked doubles player.
The MOC also sanctioned financial assistance worth Rs 27.51 lakh for Nagal to support his international training and competition programme from March to October. His schedule includes participation in ATP Challenger events, ATP Tour tournaments, ATP Masters 1000 competitions and Grand Slams such as Roland Garros, Wimbledon Championships and the US Open, along with the Davis Cup second-round tie and the 2026 Asian Games.
Under TAGG, Nagal will also receive coaching support for 70 days from March to May through the Nensel Academy Tennis School. Coaches Sascha Nensel and Milos Galecic will guide the 28-year-old during this key training and competition phase. Nagal is currently India’s top-ranked singles player on the ATP Tour, with a world ranking of No. 282 and a career-high ranking of No. 68 achieved in 2024.
Meanwhile, rising Indian player Dhakshineswar Suresh has been recommended for inclusion in the Target Asian Games Group based on his potential as a strong singles and doubles prospect for the country.
With Suresh’s addition, 12 tennis players are now supported under the TAGG scheme. Introduced in 2025 by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the initiative is modelled on the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) and aims to provide financial assistance to medal prospects ahead of the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi–Nagoya, Japan.
