Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna criticise AITA – Tennis News
India’s top doubles team, Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna, have slammed All India Tennis Association (AITA) for not making a decision of sending them together for the London Olympics.
Bhupathi and Bopanna said that it is a sad day for Indian tennis, as AITA did not consider their continuous requests and instead offered them to partner Paes at the mega event.
They said, in a joint press conference, “We have repeatedly and consistently communicated to the AITA our desire to only be considered for selection as a team and not as individuals to be paired with any other players."
AITA announced earlier on Friday that it will send only one doubles team for the London Olympics. The committee, which was made to make decision about the selection of players, made it clear that Leander Paes will be the first
choice for the Olympics.
It is pertinent to note here that Paes is currently the highest ranked Indian player in the doubles category. The world number seven completed his career Grand Slam by winning the Australian Open at the start of this year.
The AITA first asked Mahesh Bhupathi to be Paes’ partner at the London Olympics but he refused. The governing body then contacted Bopanna but he also responded in negative.
Bopanna and Bhupathi are ranked 12th and 14th in the world respectively and they can receive a direct entry into the doubles draw at the Olympics. On other hand, Paes can choose any partner of his choice because
he is in the top 10.
The Indian duo added, “This was on the basis that we are a team legitimately entitled to a Direct Acceptance to the Olympics by virtue of our rankings. It is indeed disappointing that the AITA has chosen to disregard our request.”
Bopanna left his regular partner, Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi of Pakistan, and stared to play with Bhupathi at the start of this season in order to prepare them for this year’s summer Olympics.
They said, "We have worked together on strengthening our partnership and have proved its benefits. As a result, we have maintained our position as one of the top Men's Doubles teams in the world.”
Bhupathi and Bopanna are now hoping that AITA will change its decision before the official deadline of ITF.
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