If the All India Tennis Association was hoping that Mahesh Bhupathi would eventually come around and give in to their initial proposal that he and Leander Paes represent India in men’s doubles at the Olympics, the 38-year-old dispelled those notions on Sunday, says a report in Hindustan Times.
In a detailed mail to the tennis body, Bhupathi listed the reasons he will not share the court with Paes. “Leander Paes chose to voluntarily break apart our combination at the end of 2011, despite knowing 2012 was an Olympic year and despite a strong 2011 on our part. Being privy to this, the AITA did not step in once at any point in the last 8 months to say no matter what we will be need to partner each other in London,” reads the mail adding, that there is a total absence of trust and communication between Leander Paes and myself.
“Without this, how can a doubles team draw on the intangibles needed at important moments in a match?”
Meanwhile AITA said it has not received any communication from Mahesh Bhupathi for refusing to play with Leander Paes at the upcoming London Olympics, says a report in The Indian Express. "We have not received any communication from Mahesh Bhupathi," said Col. Ranbir Chauhan, AITA executive director of development, when asked if they have received any intimation from the ace tennis player.
Chauhan was reacting to media reports which said that Bhupathi has refused to play with Paes at the London Olympics.
Rohan Bopanna had also rejected to play with Paes and AITA may be left with no option but to select a youngster such as Somdev Devvarman and Yuki Bhambri to team up with Paes.