New Delhi: India will have Yuki Bhambri back in doubles contention at the 2026 Asian Games after he provided a fitness certificate to the All India Tennis Association (AITA), the governing body for the sport in the country. Bhmabri had missed the Davis Cup Qualifying tie against South Kore in Seoul as he nursed a thigh injury. India ended up losing the tie to Korea 1-3 on Saturday.Bhambri had suffered a right thigh strain before his US Open main-draw match and had subsequently been doubtful for the South Korea tie. Ahead of the draw in Seoul, it was confirmed that he had not recovered in time for the competition and stayed put.“He (Bhambri) is good to go. He has submitted his fitness certificate,” said AITA’s honorary secretary Sunder Iyer to TimesofIndia.com.Bhambri and Michael Venus had exited the US Open in the first round, losing 6-7, 6-7 to American duo Ryan Seggerman and Patrik Trhac.“I’m limited in what I can do movement-wise. I can’t really sprint for drop shots and go for a lot of balls, I can’t see myself missing the Asian Games. I’ve been looking forward to that for a couple of years,” Bhambri had told TOI after that loss in New York.India are sending a seven-member contingent to the Asian Games in Aichi-Neyong with Sumit Nagal spearheading the lone singles entry. N Sriram Balaji-Anirudh Chandrasekar and DK Suresh-Yuki Bhambri are the two men’s doubles teams with Ankita Raina/Rutuja Bhosale the women’s doubles team.
Sumit Nagal reacts after missing a point against South Korea’s Kwon Soonwoo during a Davis Cup second round qualifier match in Seoul. (AP)
In the Davis Cup tie, India lost 1-3 with N Sriram Balaji and DK Suresh picking up the solitary rubber. Nagal and DK Suresh had lost both their singles matches on Friday despite being a set up. On the second day, a doubles win gave India a slight glimmer of hope but that was dashed after Soonwoo Kwon swept Nagal aside 6-1, 6-3.The men’s players will leave for the Asian Games directly from Seoul. The women’s players, who have been practicing in Pune ahead of the continental event, will leave on September 24.Tennis event is scheduled to begin on September 27 at the Higashiyama Park Tennis Center in Nagoya.
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