Tennis: Paes set to realise dream of seventh Olympics

New Delhi: Veteran tennis star Leander Paes’ dream of playing in a record seventh straight Olympics came true on Saturday after he was named with Rohan Bopanna as the Indian men’s doubles team for the Rio Olympics.

Bopanna and Sania Mirza were picked for the mixed doubles while the latter will partner youngster Prarthana Thombare in women’s doubles.

Ignoring Bopanna’s request for pairing him with Saketh Myneni, the All India Tennis Association (AITA) selection committee announced the decision after its meeting here.

Bopanna, who earned a direct Olympic entry based on his World No 10 ranking in men’s doubles, on Friday took everyone by surprise when he told AITA that he preferred Myneni as his men’s doubles partner for the Rio Games starting on August 4.

In an apparent attempt to douse the fire, AITA president Anil Khanna said Bopanna respected Paes but he had his reasons to partner Myneni.

“Bopanna respects Paes, he has given us his reasons why he would prefer Myneni,” Khanna told the media.

“The men’s doubles team is more fortunate with Bopanna in the top 10 and Paes at 46. Our decision is merely based on the best medal prospect,” he added.

Bopanna, on his part, issued a statement on Saturday, reluctantly accepting the AITA’s decision. “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,” Bopanna said in the statement.

“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 and I do not believe our styles of play are either compatible or complementary,” he added.

“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.”

Paes recently completed a career slam after winning the French Open mixed doubles along with Swiss great Martina Hingis at the French Open last week.

Meanwhile, Sania, who had also given her preference to the AITA on Friday, is set to team up with Bopanna in the mixed-doubles category besides partnering Prarthana in the doubles.

Khanna expressed the hope that Paes and Bopanna will sort out their differences when they get together in Chandigarh for the Davis Cup tie against South Korea to be played on July 15-17.

“The nation comes first. Winning an Olympic medal is the biggest achievement in sport. We want to win as many medals as possible. Now we have a chance of getting two medals, in men’s doubles and mixed doubles, thanks to Bopanna,” he said.