Leander Paes : Disappointed that after 6 Olympics for India, I haven't been given a room

"I am slightly disappointed that having played six Olympics for India, I haven't been given a place to stay. I was playing a tournament in New York and took the first flight on its completion. The match got over at 8 and took a 10.45 flight to Rio. Of the three rooms that have been assigned in the apartment, one is with Zeeshan, and the other two have been given to Rohan and the team physio," Leander Paes was quoted as saying by ToI.

Leander Paes had been in the thick of a storm after his tiffs with fellow players in 2012 and 2016. Initially, Rohan Bopanna had preferred Saketh Myneni as his partner ahead of the announcement, but some last-minute maneuvering by the All India Tennis Association (AITA) saw Leander announced as the partner.

Initial reports also suggested that Paes had refused to share a room with his partner Bopanna, although Indian tennis captain Zeeshan Ali has now refuted those claims.

"There have been speculations that Leander has complained that he doesn't want to share a room with Rohan (Bopanna), but there's no truth to it. I and the organisers were aware that he was to reach Rio on Thursday (August 4). Sure he will be low on time for the match on August 6, but he practiced on arriving will be ready for the match," Zeeshan said, reported ToI.