Press Trust of India
New Delhi, June 6: Leander Paes will have to forego his claim on the mixed doubles event to be able to play in his seventh Olympics as his efforts are being made to convince Rohan Bopanna to accept him as a men’s doubles partner for the Rio Games.
Bopanna, who has earned a direct entry into the men’s doubles event by virtue of his top 10 ATP rankings, has the privilege to pick his own partner. The All India Tennis Association (AITA) is trying its best to convince him to choose Paes. The 42-year-old veteran’s dream of playing in a seventh Olympics will not turn real, if Bopanna (who belongs to the Mahesh Bhupathi) lobby decides to go for someone else.
The piece of history that Paes is eyeing is clearly in the hands of Bopanna and for that he may have to forego the mixed doubles, as Sania Mirza wants to pair up with ‘best buddy’ Bopanna for Rio. If Paes persist on playing with Sania, an idea which the latter is not very comfortable with, then Bopanna may well take the extreme step of choosing some other partner for the men’s doubles.
A tense AITA is trying to ensure that no bad blood is created this time before the Olympics and everyone gets to play.
Bopanna has not revealed his choice as yet but it has been learnt that AITA is likely to ask him to pair with Paes, keeping in mind the popular sentiment as well his ability.
“It makes sense if No. 1 and 2 players of the country play together. Even a layman would also think that way. Bopanna, no doubt, has the choice but here it is question of nation and not an individual. We are hoping that common sense will prevail,” an AITA official stated Monday.
“And Leander is no less than Bopanna. Yes, his ranking has plummeted, but in no way is he inferior to Bopanna in the doubles. We do not intend to interfere but we will act in a way which is in the best interest of the nation,” the official added.
