LONDON, June 29: Veteran Leander Paes has finally agreed to take part in the London Olympics, ending days of suspense over his participation after he threatened to pull out due to a selection row that engulfed Indian tennis ahead of the mega-event.
After days of maintaining a stoic silence on his Olympic participation, Paes confirmed his participation at the post-match press conference of the ongoing Wimbledon Championships here, a statement which is likely to put a lid on the selection controversy.
“I am looking forward to representing my country with the teams that the All India Tennis Association have selected,” Paes said after winning his first-round men’s doubles match with regular Czech partner Radek Stepanek.
“I am here to play sport and not politics,” he asserted.
The 39-year-old had threatened to withdraw from the Olympics despite being India’s number one doubles player after being paired with a lower-ranked Vishnu Vardhan for the big event against his wishes.
Paes’ partners of choice — Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna — refused to combine with him and insisted on being sent as a team themselves. The All India Tennis Association ultimately bowed to their insistence in a compromise formula of sending two teams, leaving Paes furious.
Paes was given the mixed doubles slot with Sania Mirza, breaking her Grand Slam winning combination with Bhupathi.
In an extraordinary attack shortly after getting her Olympic wildcard, Sania hit out at AITA, Paes as well as Bhupathi, claiming that she was used as a “bait” to pacify the disgruntled veteran.
Paes, however, chose to stay mum on Sania’s outburst.
“Unfortunately, I see the games being played within games, and as much as that is very disheartening, I am looking forward to playing my sixth Olympics for my country as I have played for 22 years for the people and the flag.(PTI)
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