I respect AITA's decision to pair me with Paes : Rohan Bopanna

Prabu Thiruppathy

ByPrabu Thiruppathy, SportsCafe Editor

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India's Olympic hopes in tennis grew a shade brighter after Rohan Bopanna accepted the AITA’s decision to pair him with Leander Paes despite his apprehension. Bopanna had earlier expressed his desire to play with Saketh Myneni, but the AITA opted to send Paes on a record seventh Olympic mission.

The Olympics feud between the two started in the run-up to the 2012 London Olympics, when Rohan Bopanna and Mahesh Bhupathi refused to play with Paes as partner, prompting the 42-year-old to reluctantly partner Vishnu Vardhan. India returned medal-less in the event, and that may have prompted the AITA's decision to forcibly pair two of the best doubles players instead of acceding to the demands to send “the best pair”.

“The AITA selection committee has now made its decision after due consideration of my representation, and has selected the team for the Olympics. I respect this decision and look forward to participating in Rio,” said Bopanna in a statement soon after the decision to send Paes.

AITA also appointed Davis Cup coach Zeeshan Ali as the captain of the Olympic squad.

"It's time to look forward now. Leander and Rohan have it in them to fight tough for medal. It will be tough no doubt but they have been there at top level for some time now.

Putting aside differences, they make a decent combination keeping in mind the field," Zeeshan told PTI.

(Also read - Leander Paes - Rohan Bopanna. A disaster in the making?) 

The move also found widespread appreciation from sportsfans who have been waiting fingers crossed about one of the few events where India has a definite medal hope. Harbhajan Singh expressed his delight at Paes' inclusion with a tweet.

Bopanna had earlier send a communication to the AITA requesting Saketh Myneni based on the privilege he had earned as a top-10 doubles player in the world.

“I have much admiration for Leander Paes and his many achievements, but unfortunately, we have not been able to put together a good combination despite our best efforts. I do not believe our styles of play are either compatible or complementary.”

“I have chosen Saketh based on a careful weighing of whose game will complement mine at Rio, given my own skills, strengths, and weaknesses. As you will see from my track record, I have consistently had success with partners who have big weapons, a serve, a forehand. In that sense, the ranking of the player in doubles is far less important than what he brings to the partnership,” he had written in his letter.

(Also read - The legend of Leander Paes - 5 unique records of the Olympian)

Meanwhile, Paes is all set to go for the Olympics hinting at no trace of any heartburn at the drama that has panned out over the past few months.

“Thank you everyone for your support. I am humbled. It's an honour to represent the nation at the Rio Olympics,” he tweeted from his official account.

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