Social media plea works, Sumit Nagal gets UK visa appointment to play in Wimbledon | Tennis News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: India’s top tennis player, Sumit Nagal, faced a hurdle in obtaining a UK visa appointment for his participation in Wimbledon 2024. Nagal took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), to plead with the UK visa authority for assistance after his initial attempts proved unsuccessful.
With Wimbledon scheduled from July 1-14 at the prestigious All-England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London, Nagal’s participation was imperative for representing India on the international stage.
In a turn of events, Nagal’s plea on social media caught the attention of the UK visa authority, prompting them to swiftly address his request. Responding promptly, they provided Nagal with the required appointment, ensuring that he could proceed with his visa application without further delay.
Expressing his gratitude, Nagal acknowledged the UK visa authority’s assistance through another post on X, wherein he also deleted the previous one. This development not only highlights the power of social media in connecting individuals with authorities but also underscores the importance of timely intervention in facilitating international sporting events and athletes’ participation.
“Thank You Christian Scott mam (Deputy High Commissioner of British High Commission in India), British High Commission in India, and VFSGlobal for your swift response on my UK visa appointment request. Really appreciate your help!” Nagal wrote on Twitter.

Nagal, 26, achieved a remarkable career-high men’s singles ranking of 80 in the latest ATP Rankings, released on Monday, following an impressive showing at the Monte Carlo Masters. Nagal’s ascent in the rankings was fueled by his solid performance in the prestigious tournament.
Securing a spot in the main draw of the Monte Carlo Masters was a significant achievement for Nagal, achieved after defeating Italy’s Flavio Cobolli and Argentina’s Facundo Diaz Acosta in the qualifiers.
Nagal’s presence in the main draw marked him as only the third Indian player to compete at this level on clay, following in the footsteps of Vijay Amritraj (1977) and Ramesh Krishnan (1982).
In the opening round of the tournament, Nagal created history by defeating World No. 38 Matteo Arnald of Italy, becoming the first Indian player to win an ATP Masters 1000 match on clay since the series’ inception in 1990. This victory underscored Nagal’s growing prowess on the international stage.
Although Nagal’s journey in the Monte Carlo Masters ended in the second round with a loss to seventh seed and 2023 runner-up Holger Rune, his overall performance was commendable.
As a result of his stellar showing, Nagal ascended 13 spots in the ATP Rankings, reaching a new career high and further solidifying his status as one of India’s top tennis talents.
(With IANS inputs)