'Whatever Sumit has achieved is because of Mahesh'

Suresh Nagal is a proud father. An ecstatic Nagal was finding it difficult to express his delight in words after learning his son Sumit's triumph in the final of the Wimbledon's junior boys' doubles. He was quick to dedicate the success to veteran tennis star, Mahesh Bhupathi, who has been a mentor for the 17-year-old.

India's Nagal wins junior boys doubles Wimbledon title

"Sumit started playing tennis from the age of seven years. The local coach told me that my son is very talented and should get formal coaching as he has the ability to go far. Then at the age of 10 years, he was spotted by Mahesh Bhupathi and he went to his academy after that. Whatever Sumit has achieved is because of Mahesh. He is like God to us," Nagal senior told NDTV.

"We are very ordinary people and had Mahesh not been there, we would have found it extremely difficult to afford the expenses of taking up a game like tennis. Mahesh took care of his coaching, his expenses, planning part as to what are the tournaments he should be playing and how he should be training and everything," said the proud father.

Asked as to who has been Sumit's idol, Nagal senior said that his son looks up to Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic.

"His idol has been Novak Djokovic and he draws inspiration from his performances," he concluded.

Image: Sumit Nagal

Photograph: Patrick Scala/Getty Images