WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Leander Paes insists the “disheartening” selection row engulfing India’s tennis team for the London Games hasn’t dampened his enthusiasm about appearing in his sixth Olympics.
The 39-year-old Paes will play mixed doubles at the Olympics with India’s top women’s player, Sania Mirza, who on Tuesday said she was being used as “bait” to pacify Paes after he was asked to be paired with little-known Vishnu Vardhan in the men’s doubles.
Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna will be India’s other pairing in the men’s doubles, after they each refused to partner with Paes in London because they have been playing together on the ATP circuit.
Before his partnership with Mirza was confirmed, Paes had threatened to withdraw himself from contention following the decision to pair him with Vardhan.
