India No. 1 Nagal apologises to local Portuguese crowd for post-match gesture
Indian tennis player Sumit Nagal has apologized to the crowd and his opponent, Henrique Rocha, following a controversial gesture made during a match in Portugal. This incident occurs during a difficult period for Indian tennis, which recently suffered a medal-less campaign at the Asian Games.
Why it matters
The story reflects the pressures faced by professional athletes and the current state of Indian tennis on the international stage.
NEW DELHI: India's No. 1 tennis player Sumit Nagal has apologised to the crowd in Maia, Portugal, and local player Henrique Rocha for making a “talking gesture” after his first-round victory at the Maia ATP Challenger, saying it was a heat-of-the-moment reaction.Nagal, who prevailed 6-3, 5-7, 7-6(5) in a gruelling two-hour-and-56-minute contest, addressed the incident in a post on Instagram. Rocha had served for the match twice before the Indian fought back to secure the win.“To the crowd in Maia, I want to apologise for the talking gesture I made after the match. It was a heat-of-the-moment reaction, and it wasn’t the right way to respond,” Nagal wrote.“I respect everyone who came out to watch, and I appreciate you being there.
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