NEW DELHI: Sending out a robust message that it would possibly not allow players to intrude in variety issues, the AITA brought again old warhorse Leander Paes within the Davis Cup staff regardless of "reservations" from seasoned campaigner Rohan Bopanna.
The five-member variety committee named Yuki Bhambri, Ramkumar Ramanathan, Sumit Nagal, Bopanna and Paes aside from including left-handed Divij Sharan as a reserve member within the facet. Purav Raja, who carried out below-par towards Canada within the World Group Play-Off tie, was once predictably dropped from the squad.
According to sources within the AITA, non-playing captain Mahesh Bhupathi had written to the chairman of the selection committee that senior professional Bopanna had expressed wish to "sit out" of the China tie, to allow Paes get his Davis Cup world file, successfully conveying that he was once not willing to pair up with the legend for this tie.
The selectors although have integrated each Bopanna and Paes within the staff, leaving the ball in Bopanna's courtroom to make a decision whether or not he desires to play or decide out of the April 6-7 tie, to be held in Tainjin.
"This matter was discussed in the EC yesterday and according to the captain, Rohan is still carrying a baggage and there is no on-court chemistry between them (Bopanna and Paes). The captain also felt that it was only Leander, who can convince Bopanna to play with him and that he must communicate with Bopanna," an AITA official stated.
The AITA official stated that it is going to be a very critical determination that Bopanna has to make. The official did not omit to say that Bopanna nonetheless gets government grant and should pay attention to what he is getting into.
"Look, he (Bopanna) gets grants from the government. If he refuses to play for the country, leaving behind personal differences, AITA won't support such players. They have to play only twice or thrice a year for India. Can't they play without an agenda for two weeks," the irked AITA official remarked.
The differences between Bopanna and Paes return a long way. In 2012, both of them have been anticipated to play in combination on the ATP Tour to organize for the London Olympics however later Bopanna had refused to pair up with Paes and forced AITA to staff him up with Bhupathi.
Paes had to play the boys's doubles match with unheralded Vishnu Vardhan. For the combined doubles, he was once paired with Sania Mirza, who did not hide his unhappiness at getting used as a "bait" by AITA to pacify Paes.
Meanwhile, the 44-year-old Paes, who was once dropped from the tie towards Uzbekistan in April 2017, stated he had no issues playing with Bopanna.
"I am happy to make a comeback to the Indian team. I have worked hard and moved my ranking up. I am looking forward towards playing Rohan. We can make a good combination. I respect Rohan's talent as a player," Paes stated.
Paes had been out of favour since the Bengaluru drama when he was once not integrated within the beginning line-up by captain Mahesh Bhupathi regardless of having him within the six-man squad.
The veteran flew all the approach from the United States to Bengaluru and after being dropped, he had left the town mid-way into the tie.
Paes returned to top-50 and is placed 46th within the rankings after his stupendous show on the ATP 500 match in Dubai, the place he ended runner-up with Jamie Cerratani.
Sharan, now ranked 44, is country's second highest-ranked participant after Bopanna (20), and has made a comeback to the staff after 2012, when he made his debut towards New Zealand.
Asked about Sharan being named a reserve, regardless of having higher ranking, the selection committee chairman SP Misra stated:"Paes may be ranked lower than Divij but in Davis Cup, he has performed tremendously. He will also get a chance to get that world record."
Asked about players' reservation, Misra stated they wanted to choose the most efficient possible staff and feature executed so.
Coach Zeeshan Ali stated in present scenario, Leander and Rohan are highest doubles pair for the staff.
"We have three best singles players in the team and three best doubles players. Having Leander and Rohan in the team is our best chance to get the doubles point," Zeeshan stated.
Repeated text messages to Bopanna went unanswered.
The Asia Oceania staff I tie will probably be played in new layout over two days with all fits being highest of 3 sets. The two singles will probably be played on Friday and the doubles along side reverse singles played on the following day. The ITF has now allowed 5 playing contributors within the squad instead of 4.
The five-member variety committee named Yuki Bhambri, Ramkumar Ramanathan, Sumit Nagal, Bopanna and Paes aside from including left-handed Divij Sharan as a reserve member within the facet. Purav Raja, who carried out below-par towards Canada within the World Group Play-Off tie, was once predictably dropped from the squad.
According to sources within the AITA, non-playing captain Mahesh Bhupathi had written to the chairman of the selection committee that senior professional Bopanna had expressed wish to "sit out" of the China tie, to allow Paes get his Davis Cup world file, successfully conveying that he was once not willing to pair up with the legend for this tie.
The selectors although have integrated each Bopanna and Paes within the staff, leaving the ball in Bopanna's courtroom to make a decision whether or not he desires to play or decide out of the April 6-7 tie, to be held in Tainjin.
"This matter was discussed in the EC yesterday and according to the captain, Rohan is still carrying a baggage and there is no on-court chemistry between them (Bopanna and Paes). The captain also felt that it was only Leander, who can convince Bopanna to play with him and that he must communicate with Bopanna," an AITA official stated.
The AITA official stated that it is going to be a very critical determination that Bopanna has to make. The official did not omit to say that Bopanna nonetheless gets government grant and should pay attention to what he is getting into.
"Look, he (Bopanna) gets grants from the government. If he refuses to play for the country, leaving behind personal differences, AITA won't support such players. They have to play only twice or thrice a year for India. Can't they play without an agenda for two weeks," the irked AITA official remarked.
The differences between Bopanna and Paes return a long way. In 2012, both of them have been anticipated to play in combination on the ATP Tour to organize for the London Olympics however later Bopanna had refused to pair up with Paes and forced AITA to staff him up with Bhupathi.
Paes had to play the boys's doubles match with unheralded Vishnu Vardhan. For the combined doubles, he was once paired with Sania Mirza, who did not hide his unhappiness at getting used as a "bait" by AITA to pacify Paes.
Meanwhile, the 44-year-old Paes, who was once dropped from the tie towards Uzbekistan in April 2017, stated he had no issues playing with Bopanna.
"I am happy to make a comeback to the Indian team. I have worked hard and moved my ranking up. I am looking forward towards playing Rohan. We can make a good combination. I respect Rohan's talent as a player," Paes stated.
Paes had been out of favour since the Bengaluru drama when he was once not integrated within the beginning line-up by captain Mahesh Bhupathi regardless of having him within the six-man squad.
The veteran flew all the approach from the United States to Bengaluru and after being dropped, he had left the town mid-way into the tie.
Paes returned to top-50 and is placed 46th within the rankings after his stupendous show on the ATP 500 match in Dubai, the place he ended runner-up with Jamie Cerratani.
Sharan, now ranked 44, is country's second highest-ranked participant after Bopanna (20), and has made a comeback to the staff after 2012, when he made his debut towards New Zealand.
Asked about Sharan being named a reserve, regardless of having higher ranking, the selection committee chairman SP Misra stated:"Paes may be ranked lower than Divij but in Davis Cup, he has performed tremendously. He will also get a chance to get that world record."
Asked about players' reservation, Misra stated they wanted to choose the most efficient possible staff and feature executed so.
Coach Zeeshan Ali stated in present scenario, Leander and Rohan are highest doubles pair for the staff.
"We have three best singles players in the team and three best doubles players. Having Leander and Rohan in the team is our best chance to get the doubles point," Zeeshan stated.
Repeated text messages to Bopanna went unanswered.
The Asia Oceania staff I tie will probably be played in new layout over two days with all fits being highest of 3 sets. The two singles will probably be played on Friday and the doubles along side reverse singles played on the following day. The ITF has now allowed 5 playing contributors within the squad instead of 4.
AITA ignores Bopanna's reservation, pairs him with Paes
![AITA ignores Bopanna's reservation, pairs him with Paes]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
March 11, 2018
Rating:
