Raina in 3 teams as India finalise pairs

PALEMBANG: Ramkumar Ramanathan will pair up with Sumit Nagal as India’s second doubles combination after the sudden withdrawal of Leander Paes. Also, Ankita Raina will play in all three events — singles, doubles and mixed doubles.

Coach Zeeshan Ali submitted the final entries on Saturday after reworking the combinations with less than 24 hours before the start of competition at the Asian Games. Unhappy with the team selection, Paes pulled out of the event last-minute on Thursday, throwing plans haywire.

The singles entries — Ramkumar Ramanathan and Prajnesh Gunneswaran — were already decided. So was the first doubles combination of Rohan Bopanna and Divij Sharan.

In mixed doubles, where Leander was supposed to partner Raina, Zeeshan finalised another combination just after one training session on Friday. Now, Bopanna will partner Ankita while Divij will play alongside promising Karman Kaur Thandi, who will also play in singles.

Doubles player Prarthana Thombare has been ignored for mixed doubles and will only play doubles with Raina. Rutuja Bhonsale and Pranjala Yadlapalli form the second doubles combination. Also, Ramkumar will have to turn out for doubles too and will play alongside Nagal, who arrived only late last night.

“The decision has been taken after the practice session last evening and the following discussions with Rohan and Divij,” Zeeshan said about the pairings.