“Big” Year for Indian tennis - Mahesh Bhupathi
Indian professional tennis player, Mahesh Bhupathi feels that this year has been a significant one for tennis in India, and that the success has been magnified further by Somdev Devvarman, another Indian pro, and his superb showing
at the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games.
Mahesh Bhupathi is among one of the best doubles players in the world, winning 11 Grand Slam events since 1997. He was the first Indian to win a Grand Slam, a feat he achieved with partner Rika Hiraki. In 2006, he completed a Career
Mixed Doubles Grand Slam by winning the Australian Open Mixed Doubles.
While it is not surprising that tennis in India has taken such big strides thanks to emerging players and the popularity of the sport, what amuses Bhupathi is the fact that Indians were genuinely astonished and surprised by the
performance which Indian players put together at the Asian Games. Bhupathi pointed out that his country has been taking over the Asian tennis circuit for the last quarter of a century.
This year at the Asian games, India collected two gold medals, one silver medal and two bronze medals, for a total of five awards. The gold medals were won in the men’s singles, by Devvarman, and the doubles (again by Devvarman
and his partner Sanam Singh). The silver medal was taken away in mixed doubles, where Sania Mirza played with Vishnu Vardhan. One bronze medal was awarded to Mirza yet again for women’s singles, and another one for the men’s team event.
In addition to these achievements at the Asian Games, Somdev Devvarman also won the singles title at the Commonwealth Games. Mahesh Bhupathi appreciated his compatriot’s efforts and expressed high hopes for him at a function arranged
by Mittal Champions Trust, where 17 of the players whom they support were honoured for their class act at the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.
Bhupathi said, “It has been a big year for Indian tennis. Somdev has had a great run dominating the Commonwealth Games and then the Asian Games. He has been in and out of the top 100 and it’s time that he cements that place in
the top 100. Next year is going to be a defining year for him.” A Chairman of the Mittal Champions Trust, addressed the athletes about the importance of proper training and effort. He said, “Abhinav (Bindra) has set the bar high for us at the Beijing Olympics.
We have a year and a half (to the 2012 London Olympics).”
He added that Indian tennis had always expected Somdev Devvarman and Sanam Singh to do well, especially since they reached the semi finals of the Chennai Open in 2009. He says, “I don’t know why people are so surprised.. we always
expected them to come good.. it’s not surprising that they won gold. In fact, they were unlucky to miss the gold in the team event (men’s) and also mixed doubles.”
While Devvarman and Singh participated at the Asian Games, Bhupathi and fellow tennis players Leander Paes and Rohan Bopanna opted out of the event in order to take part in this year's Barclay’s ATP World Tour Final, held in London.
Mahesh Bhupathi, with his partner Belarusian Max Mirnyi, reached the finals of the event.
However, there was one topic that Bhupathi seemed eager to avoid during his speech. He has chosen to refrain from commenting on his upcoming reunion with Leander Paes, who was once his partner. The two will aim to win the doubles
at the 2011 Australian Open, in order to complete a career Grand Slam together in January.
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