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New Delhi, September 10, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)

Playing for India at marquee events such as the Asian Games and Davis Cup brings a different level of responsibility and pressure compared with competing in individual tournaments, said Rohit Rajpal, India's non-playing Davis Cup captain.

Rajpal, who won a tennis bronze medal at the 1990 Asian Games in Beijing, expressed confidence that the sport will continue India's strong medal-winning tradition at the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, scheduled from September 19 to October 4.

India will compete in the Davis Cup World Group Qualifiers Round 2 against hosts South Korea in Seoul on September 18 and 19, just before the Asian Games.

“No, it's just completely different. I mean, there, you're playing for yourself and your career. You do what you want. Here, you do have a responsibility because you're playing for your country. So, it's a different kind of pressure that playing for your country and your flag brings to you when in Davis Cup or playing in Asian Games,” Rajpal said.

Despite India's tennis contingent being reduced from 12 to seven athletes, leaving the country without a women's singles representative, Rajpal remained optimistic about the team's medal prospects.

“From my times, I was saying earlier as well, I'm an Asian Games medalist. So, even before me, we have always contributed to the medals tally. Tennis has always contributed and we've done well for India,” he said.

Recalling India's performance at the previous Asian Games in Hangzhou, Rajpal noted that the country won three or four tennis medals, including silver and bronze medals in mixed doubles and men's doubles.

“We will definitely be contributing this time too,” he said.

Rajpal also discussed the longstanding difficulty Indian players face while moving from successful junior careers on the ITF circuit to the senior professional level on the ATP Tour. He attributed part of the challenge to differences in physical and personal development, while stressing that improved training and support systems are helping bridge the gap.

He said Indian players traditionally mature later because of family and social structures, with youngsters often continuing to receive extensive support at an age when players in some Western countries are expected to become more independent.

However, he said the situation is changing as tennis becomes increasingly physical and Indian players receive better access to professional support.

“Then we have good physios and the boys are really, really focused on bridging that gap,” Rajpal said.

He pointed out that young players can suddenly find themselves competing against opponents up to a decade older, stronger and more experienced after moving into senior competition.

“These are transitional issues that every player faces. But we are getting better and better at that now,” he said, stressing the need for greater support during the transition so that players can develop within an environment that provides a more level playing field.