New Delhi: Sports minister Ajay Maken on Monday questioned the All India Tennis Association's (AITA) decision to pair feuding former partners Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi for the Olympics, asking why just one team is being insisted upon for the event where the country can send two.
"We can send two teams, why send one? Hidden question is on who should pair Sania? Why disturb victorious Grand Slam mixed double pair?" asked Maken in his latest post on Twitter.
The estranged duo of Paes and Bhupathi have been declared AITA's picks for the Olympics even though the latter has made it clear in no uncertain terms that he was not willing to team up with his former partner.
Maken questioned AITA\'s decision to pair feuding former partners Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi for the Olympics.
Paes, with a top-10 ATP ranking, is entitled to pick a partner of choice for the big event. Bhupathi, on the other hand, can make the draw as a team with his current partner Rohan Bopanna on the basis of their combined ranking.
Bhupathi has insisted on being paired with Bopanna with whom he joined hands at the start of the season specifically with Olympics on mind.
Bhupathi has reacted sharply to AITA's decision saying that he would not share court with someone who "backstabbed" him by breaking up the partnership last season despite being well aware that 2012 is an Olympic year.
With Bopanna also refusing to team up with Paes, sighting his pact and on-court camaraderie with Bhupathi, the AITA is left with massive feud to resolve besides finding a partner for Paes.
AITA had earlier warned that disciplinary action will be taken against the player, who refuses to be part of the team.
If Bopanna too sticks to his stand then AITA may be left with no option but to select a youngster such as Somdev Devvarman and Yuki Bhambri to team up with Paes.
Paes and Bhupathi have played four Olympics together but have never won a medal. Paes though won a singles bronze medal at 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest)
India @ 9 with Rajdeep Sardesai
Is BCCI saving its own people and must Srinivasan, Shukla step down?
Is BCCI chief N Srinivasan making a big mistake by not resigning?
Let the team owners take over the IPL: Lalit Modi
Ajay Makan is the current Sports minister and member of the 15th Lok Sabha of India. He represents the New Delhi constituency of Delhi and is a member of the Indian National Congress (INC) political party.
Ajay Maken, was elected the Presiden ...
Leander Adrian Paes is an Indian professional tennis player who currently features in the doubles events in the ATP tour and the Davis Cup tournament.
He is one of the most successful professional Indian tennis players and also the former cap ...
Mahesh Shrinivas Bhupathi is a professional tennis player. He is married to Shvetha Jaishankar Bhupathi, an Indian model whom he met at a party.
He turned professional in 1995, and in 2001, he was awarded the Padma Shri. He is among the best ...
Rohan Bopanna is an Indian professional tennis player. His singles career high ranking was 213th in 2007. Recently, most of his appearances in professional tournaments has been in doubles matches. He is a member of the Indian Davis Cup team si ...
The 2012 Summer Olympics are planned to take place between 27 July 2012 and 12 August 2012 in London. The London 2012 Olympic bid was announced as the winner of the bidding process on 6 July 2005, following unsuccessful bid attempts for previo ...
Chhattisgarh Naxal attack: Cong chief's son found
BCCI officials not keen on Srinivasan's resignation, say sources
Future uncertain, CSK out to hunt Mumbai for third title
IPL: Police to probe if Meiyappan placed bets, traded insider info
