India’s top men’s tennis player, Sumit Nagal, has said that China refused to
give him a visa just weeks before he was supposed to play in the Australian
Open qualifying tournament in Sichuan province.
Nagal, 28 years old and ranked world number 275, has represented India at
both the Tokyo and Paris Olympics. In 2024, he reached his career-best
ranking of 68th. He has played twice in the Australian Open main draw,
losing in the first round in 2023 and the second round in 2024.
Tournament officials said that players should contact the Chinese consulate
for visa information and can request an invitation letter if needed. However,
the organizers did not respond to media requests for further comment.
When asked about the situation, China’s foreign ministry said on Thursday
that Nagal should submit the required documents properly to the Chinese
embassy in India.
India and China resumed direct flights only last month after nearly five
years of suspension due to the pandemic and rising political tensions
between the two countries.