Leander Paes still hurting over Asian Games pull-out

Leander Paes

Over 48 hours after pulling out of the Asian Games, India tennis ace Leander Paes is still hurting. Paes pulled out as he did not have a doubles specialist to partner. The six-man Indian men's tennis contingent comprises three singles players - Ramkumar Ramnathan, Prajnesh Gunneswaran and Sumit Nagal, and three doubles players Rohan Bopanna, Divij Sharan and Paes. With Bopanna and Sharan pairing up, Paes would've had to partner an out-of-form Nagal or Ramkumar.

"There is no way I'd want Ramkumar to partner me because he can win a singles gold. By playing the doubles, it could hamper that gold medal prospect. A singles gold is precious," Paes told mid-day from Cincinnati.

"India have done well in doubles events at the Asiad, so I felt we should be playing to our strengths and picking strong doubles teams," added Paes, 45, who has won eight medals at the Asiad including three doubles gold. "I spoke to our captain Zeeshan Ali and he said it's a selection issue, so I took it up with the selectors, but no use. It's sad this happened, but more than anyone else, I'm most disappointed," said Paes.

India finalise doubles combination
Palembang: The Indian tennis contingent squad has figured out its doubles combinations less than 24 hours before the start of competition at the Asian Games here today. The singles entries were already decided and so was the doubles pairing of Rohan Bopanna and Divij Sharan. Ramkumar Ramanathan, who will be playing singles alongside Prajnesh Gunneswaran, will form the second men's doubles pairing with Sumit Nagal.

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