New Delhi: Putting an end to rampant speculation, the All India Tennis Association (AITA) worked out a compromise formula on Thursday by agreeing to pair Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna for the men’s doubles and teamed up Leander Paes with Sania Mirza for the mixed doubles event of the upcoming London Olympics.
With the tennis feud spilling out in public, AITA, which had taken a tough stand against Bhupathi and Bopanna, finally yielded by deciding to send two teams to next month’s Games, saying it was a “calculated risk”.
Despite Paes’ pull out threat on being paired with a junior player, AITA chose 206th ranked Vishnu Vardhan as his partner for the men’s doubles and hoped that he will abide by the decision.
Sources early on Thursday evening, however, suggested that Paes would withdraw from the Indian contingent, but these reports were later changed, with no official word from the tennis player himself.
The AITA decision means that Bhupathi, who is paired with desired partner Bopanna, will have to miss the mixed doubles event.
Sania, whose participation depends on securing a wild card, had wished to be paired with Bhupathi as they gel well as a team but said she was ready to play with any player that AITA chooses.
Paes, who was keen to play men’s doubles with a senior pro such as Bhupathi or Bopanna, will now have a shot at a medal in the mixed doubles with Sania.
Put in a quandary after the three top players threatened to opt out of the mega event, AITA conceded that its decision was “not fair” in all respects but was in the “best interest of the nation”.
AITA came out in wholesome praise of Paes, describing him as patriotic and appealed to him to partner Vardhan.
President of AITA, Anil Khanna was effusive in his acclaim for Paes, describing him as “our great tennis player” and “undoubtedly the most patriotic one,” a possible dig at the pair of Bhupathi and Bopanna. Khanna backed Paes further by saying that this decision was unfair on Paes, personally.
He added that Paes “had been driven to the wall and had to react sharply yesterday much against his true character.”
“AITA does not want Leander’s image to be tarnished. AITA now requests Leander to forgive the utterances (against him by Bhupathi and Bopanna). We request Leander to reverse his thoughts and he should help Bopanna and Vishnu to succeed in their first Olympics,” Khanna also said.
This ended speculation of Paes being paired with Somdev Devvarman, who is recovering from a shoulder injury, but who also threw his hat into the ring, saying that he was fit enough and ready to partner Paes.
The AITA chief said, “Under the complicated circumstances, this is the most balanced decision. I am sure we will be able to convince Paes to play. It’s a calculated risk. We did not want to be harsh on Bhupathi and Bopanna at this stage.”
“It will be a disaster, it will be a nightmare for all of us, if Paes refuses. Initially he may have reservations but he should agree.”
Khanna claimed that the decision was not a climbdown. He stated that the tennis body was not pressured into changing its mind.
Asked whether AITA had condoned the conduct of Bhupathi and Bopanna, Khanna said it is not a closed chapter, hinting at possible action towards the pair following the Games.
“A code of conduct for the players will be implemented after the Olympics. We will discuss it after the Games.”
Bhupathi-Bopanna ‘delighted’
Meanwhile, in a joint statement, Bhupathi and Bopanna commented on the selection. “We are excited that we will be playing together at the Olympics and our sole focus is now on our team’s preparations for the Games,” the statement read.
“We are delighted to have been nominated as a team to the Men’s Doubles event.”
But they also had something to say about the past few days’ controversy.
“The events of the last few days have been extremely challenging for all concerned, but we respect them as necessary steps in this process.
“In making each of our decisions, we were guided by our strong convictions regarding what we believed was fair and we are pleased that this is reflected in the outcome. We are greatly appreciative of the support we have received from across the world,” the statement added. (PTI )