India's Tennis Contingent Likely To Continue Medal-Winning Trend At Asian Games

India have not returned without a men's singles medal in the last three editions of the Asian Games and Sumit Nagal would aim to extend the record at the continental showpiece event.

India have not returned without a men's singles medal in the last three editions of the Asian Games and Sumit Nagal would aim to extend the record at the continental showpiece, where top-seeded Rohan Bopanna and Yuki Bhmabri will start as gold-medal favourites and Ankita Raina would gun for her second podium finish. The Indians have done reasonably well in the tennis event at the Games, finishing in top-three in the last three editions -- Guangzhou, Incheon and Jakarta & Palembang.

Since the Asian region does not boast of many top-100 players, who mainly come from the European nations, India's biggest challenge would come from hosts China, Korea and Japan.

Seeded fifth and featuring in the top-half of the draw, Nagal has got a bye in his opening round and his first real test will come in the quarterfinals where he is expected to run into top-seed and home favourite Zhizhen Zhang, ranked 60th in the world.

But before running into the home favourite, he will have to contend with Macau's H Leung and Kazkahstan's 10th seed Beibit Zhukayev, ranked 297.

Going past Zhang will firmly place 159th ranked Nagal in the medal hunt.