India vs Togo, Davis Cup: The visitor – unknown and unfancied but no underdog – hopes to keep winning momentum

India vs Togo, Davis Cup: The visitor – unknown and unfancied but no underdog – hopes to keep winning momentum

When India’s opponent for its next Davis Cup fixture was announced, many would have struggled to place the tiny nation of Togo on the map, leave alone its chances against the host. Watching its players train at the RK Khanna Stadium, however, makes it clear the Indians may have a fight on their hands.

India captain Rohit Rajpal admits to it and his Togolese counterpart Ali Agnamba hopes for it. At stake is a place in the World Group 1, something the Indians keep flitting in and out of and the Togolese have never reached. Still, coming in on the back of a remarkable run of 10 wins in 11 ties gives the visitor some momentum.

“Every match is different, every country you play has different types of challenges. The good thing for us right now is that we are united as a team and we are playing together. We are excited to be playing against India and we know the home crowd is going to be behind them but we understand,” Agnamba said after an intense training session.

The players were gradually getting used to both the conditions and the courts, shaking off the last remnants of jetlag flying in from different corners of the world. While three of the four players here — Liova Ayite Ajavon, M’lapa Tingou Akomlo and Thomas Yaka Kofi Setodji — train and coach in France, Hod’abalo isak Padio is a college student in USA, where Agnamba is also based.

“That is the worrying part. You have a team that is doing well — and they’ve reached almost where we are at the moment and they’ve beaten Indonesia, Latvia,these are good teams – and we don’t have much information on them. Normally, we have the data and we are much more confident. But now, we’re going to spend a lot of time watching them, make notes and take it from there,” Rajpal admitted, keenly observing the Togo training while the Indian players took a short lunch break.

World No. 73 Togo’s last match was against Latvia, ranked 27 places higher, and won 4-0. India is further up, at 38. “You’re not going to get an easy match anywhere anymore. Obviously, these guys are here for a reason. They can play and it’s not one match that they won, they have beaten a few good countries, it’s serious business. I definitely expect a tough match,” Rajpal said.

The preparations have also been contrasting. While the Indians got together last week, the Togolese were full strength for the first time only on Tuesday. “We just got here together. When we have a competition like this, we’ll come in a week earlier to train but we all know each other, we communicate through group chats. So, even though we may not be together at the same place all the time, we know what everybody is doing. It’s not difficult. Tennis is an individual sport, everybody has their own way of getting ready. As captain of the team, I am just trying to figure out what they need to get ready. These guys have been doing it for the past three years,” Agnamba explained.