Rohan Bopanna was denied his wish to partner Saketh Myneni at the Rio Olympics which begins on August 5th. All Indian Tennis Association (AITA), today announced that Leander Paes and Rohan Bopanna would pair up for the men’s doubles at the Rio Olympics.
Bopanna got a direct entry to the event, and earned the right to choose his doubles partner courtesy his top 10 ranking and expressed his preference to the AITA, even as he expressed his respect for Paes.
“I look forward to representing India at my second Olympics and consider it a privilege, responsibility and honour. A Direct Acceptance provides me the right to nominate my men’s doubles partner, an opportunity for me to exercise my judgement as to the best possible partner for me. I am looking forward to the support and good wishes of all concerned in the lead-up to the Olympics,” he had said in a statement.
The AITA’s decision was not unexpected. They said that India’s best chance for a medal at Rio lay in him teaming up with Paes, who won the French Open mixed doubles title earlier this month. “He (Bopanna) has given reasons to selection committee on why he feels Saketh could be a better doubles partner. But he has also made it clear that he wants to represent the nation. It was a well-meaning letter (which Bopanna wrote yesterday to AITA). Leander and Rohan have played four times in Davis Cup, they have a 2-2 record,” AITA President Anil Khanna said.
“Committee decided that the best bet for Indian tennis to win a medal at the Olympics would be Leander Paes and Rohan Bopanna,” he added.
However in Mixed doubles, where both Paes and Sania are top of their game with different partners, having met in the french open final recently, the AITA paired Bopanna with Sania. Here Paes lost out to Bopanna. “The committee has decided to nominate Rohan Bopanna and Sania Mirza in the mixed doubles competition,” he said.
