Leander Paes yet to get over last year’s Olympics selection fiasco

Leander Paes at the Khar Gymkhana in Mumbai yesterday, where he was felicitated (Getty Images)

Leander Paes, fresh from his US Open triumph in the men’s doubles with Radek Stepanek, said on Thursday that the ugly episode that rocked Indian tennis in the lead-up to last year’s London Olympics is something that still lingers in his memory, as reported by IBN Live. As a result of that, Paes is all the more keen to play at Rio 2016.

“The last Olympics left a real sour taste in my mouth. That is something that is still there. That has been one of my biggest motivating factors to go to Rio. At the end of the day, I can do what is within my control to make sure that I am ready,” he told reporters yesterday.

There was a huge selection row ahead of last year’s Olympics which led to internal squabbles amongst the players. It all started when Mahesh Bhupathi revealed that he would not partner Leander Paes for the tennis event at the Olympics as he wanted to stay faithful to his partner on tour, Rohan Bopanna, with whom he wanted to play in London as well. The All India Tennis Federation (AITA) then offered Rohan Bopanna the chance to partner Paes and he too subsequently refused.

To avoid any further chaos, the AITA paired Bhupathi with Bopanna and in an attempt to assuage Paes, asked Sania Mirza to partner him for the mixed doubles. Vishnu Vardhan was chosen to be Paes’ partner in the men’s doubles.

Paes who became the oldest male player to win a Grand Slam title when he won the US Open, is hoping for the current standoff between the IOA and IOC to be resolved quickly, so that the athletes could have the opportunity to represent their nation at the next Olympiad.

“Indian sports is at a crossroads at the moment. Right now, we will still be representing under the IOC flag. Firstly, I hope that is lifted. I hope that we perform under our own flag and perform for our own people. The Olympics is still three years away but for me it is to make sure that I am ready, make sure that I am in the best playing condition health-wise, physically, with my game, with my form, when we get closer to the Olympics,” he said.

He is also looking forward to playing and winning the season ending Barclays World Championship trophy, which happens to be the only major trophy he has not won.

“I have got a couple of tournaments leading into the World Championship. I will leave on Sunday for the Thai Open, the Chinese Open. But those are all the preparatory events for the O2 where I play the Barclays World Championship. It is going to take two months to prepare for a title that I still haven’t won,” Paes said.

“I think I have been in four or five finals with four or five partners but that is one trophy missing from my showcase,” he added.