NEW DELHI (AP) — India’s government has declined to help pick a doubles tennis team for the London Olympics.
The All India Tennis Association chose Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi for the tournament even though Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna frequently play together on the ATP Tour.
The tennis association says the Paes-Bhupathi combination has the best chance at a medal, but neither Bhupathi nor Bopanna wants to play with Paes.
The Indian government asked for an explanation because it is funding Olympic preparations, and two doubles teams qualified for the Olympics — Paes along with another partner by virtue of his top-10 ranking, and Bhupathi and Bopanna because of their combined ranking of 26.
