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, 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.

Ramkumar Ramanathan, the other Indian in the men's singles draw, is woefully out of form and could use the platform to redeem himself.

He has also got a bye in his opening round and will start his campaign against Tajikistan's Sunatullo Isroilov. He may run into second seed Japanese Yosuke Watanuki, ranked 78 in the world.

"To win a medal, the players will have to play a couple of tough rounds. The draws are fine, and balanced and give us the opportunity to go deep," India skipper Zeeshan Ali told PTI.

"In terms of practice, it has been tough for us here. Getting practice courts has not been easy due to