The All India Tennis Association announced that Leander Paes will be pairing with Rohan Bopanna in the men’s doubles event at Rio Olympics. Rohan Bopanna had taken Saketh Miyeni as his partner for Rio Olympics but AITA.
“Anil Khanna the AITA chief said that Rohan Bopanna will be pairing with Saina Mirza in the mixed doubles event.
“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,” 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.
“The committee has decided to nominate Rohan Bopanna and Sania Mirza in the mixed doubles competition,” he said.
Leander Paes would be making a record 7th Olympic appearance for the country which is a great achievement for Indian veteran player who has done so much for the country. It is important that Leander Paes and Rohan Bopanna play well as a team in Rio Olympics and bring back a medal for the country. Sania Mirza will partner Prarthana Thombore in the women’s doubles section.
Leander Paes has achieved so much in his career and if he could bring a medal back for the country in Rio Olympics then it would an ideal way to finish his tennis career on a high.
In the mixed doubles, Bopanna and Sania Mirza would be an ideal combination. Let us hope that in both disciplines, India could bring back medals for the country.