LONDON: Veteran Leander Paes has finally agreed to take part in the London Olympics, ending days of suspense over his participation after he threatened to pull out due to a selection row that engulfed Indian tennis.
After days of maintaining a stoic silence, Paes confirmed his participation at the post-match press conference of the ongoing Wimbledon Championships here, a statement which is likely to put a lid on the selection controversy.
“I am looking forward to representing my country with the teams that the All India Tennis Association have selected,” Paes said after winning his first-round men’s doubles match with partner Radek Stepanek.
“I am here to play sport and not politics,” he asserted.
The 39-year-old had threatened to withdraw from the Olympics despite being India’s number one doubles player after being paired with a lower-ranked Vishnu Vardhan for the big event against his wishes.
Paes was given the mixed doubles slot with Sania Mirza, breaking her Grand Slam winning combination with Bhupathi, which left Mirza fuming about being used as “bait”.
Paes, however, chose to stay silent on Mirza’s outburst.
“I am looking forward to playing my sixth Olympics for my country as I have played for 22 years for the people and the flag,” Paes said, adding that he will look to help the novice Vardhan.
“I don’t even know if he has grass-court shoes. So it’s a bit of a tough one. But he’s a really good kid, I’m happy to play with him.
“Whatever the obstacles are, which I see are going to be many…whatever I can do as an experienced professional athlete to help my partners out, I do,” he said. (PTI)