Veteran star Leander Paes pulls out of Asian Games
Palembang, Aug. 16: The Indian tennis contingent arrived here on Thursday for the Asian Games but Leander Paes, the squad’s biggest name, was conspicuous by his absence.
Zeeshan Ali, the captain and coach of the men’s team, has no clue about Paes’ arrival three days before the start of the competition on Sunday.
“I have no idea of his arrival. Only Paes can tell you when he is coming. The last time I spoke to him he said he would play in Cincinnati and then come to Palembang. But he is not playing there also,” Ali said.
There is still uncertainty over whom the 18- time Grand Slam champion will partner in the doubles, with Rohan Bopanna and Divij Sharan expected to play together.
Paes, who last played at the Asian Games in 2006, could either partner Sumit Nagal or Ramkumar Ramanathan.
The 45- year- old is in the twilight of his career and would like to end his Asian Games campaign on a high. He already has won five gold medals in the event, starting from the Hiroshima edition in 1994. While there is no information on Paes’ arrival, Bopanna has recovered from a shoulder injury.
Bopanna arrived with Sharan and the women’s squad comprising debutants Ankita Raina and Karman Kaur Thandi, besides doubles specialist Prarthana Thombare, who won a bronze alongside Sania Mirza in Incheon four years ago.
Asked about his fitness and lack of match practice, Bopanna said: “It is not an issue at all. It won’t be the first time I will be coming back from an injury. I would not have been here if I wasn’t hundred per cent fit.”
Bopanna last played at the Games more than a decade ago and is looking forward to the next one week. “I would have played earlier also but the 10- day schedule did not allow me to do that. Now it is a week- long thing which means I only miss one tournament and not two,” said the 38- year- old.
India’s singles players, Ramanathan and
Prajnesh Gunneswaran, will be joining the team on Friday, as will Nagal.
“All of the women’s team will be here too by tomorrow,” added Ali.
India had won five medals in the 2014 edition ( 1 gold, 1 silver and 3 bronze). Several medals are expected this time too despite the absence of the country’s top- ranked singles player Yuki Bhambri, who has opted to play in the US Open.