If I didn’t have Virat Kohli supporting me, I don’t know what I would have done: Sumit Nagal

Rising tennis star Sumit Nagal has become a household name in India and rightly so. In a game where India have not enjoyed much success as far as singles are concerned, Nagal has raised the hopes of millions with his recent exploits in the US Open. Just a fortnight ago, Nagal was an unknown entity in a country which is obsessed with cricket. However, the way he put up a fine show at the US Open, he has definitely made a lot of fans.

In a country where all the other sports except cricket do not get much attention, Nagal made millions wake up early and watch him fight it out against the legendary Roger Federer. While not many had given Nagal a chance of even challenging Federer, the India star left almost everyone shell shocked by winning the first set. He had later gone on to lose the game but had won a million hearts.

Help from Virat Kohli

Things could have been very different for Nagal had he not received a timely support from India cricket captain Virat Kohli’s foundation. Just like many other budding athletes, Nagal was also having a tough time financially before receiving the support. Nagal has revealed just how tough things were for him and how Kohli helped him out. The tennis star has said he is grateful to Kohli as it is the Virat Kohli foundation that has supported him in the difficult professional journey.

“Virat Kohli’s foundation has been supporting me since 2017. I haven’t been performing well for the last two years and was facing a financial crisis. If I didn’t have Virat Kohli supporting me, I don’t know what I would have done,” Nagal told Bombay Times.

“Early this year, when I was flying from Canada to Germany after a tournament, I had six dollars in my wallet… just six dollars after the help that I have been getting, so imagine what a mess I must have been before. But I survived, and things are getting better. If people fund athletes, it will only help the sport flourish in the country. I am fortunate to get that support from Virat,” he added.

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