Olympics is all about playing for my flag, my country, says Paes

When asked about what Olympics means to him, Leander Paes is a bit irked and says he hates to answer these kind of queries, says a report in Hindustan Times. “Hasn't it always been about playing for my flag, my country and my support group which has stood with me over the last 26 years? It's about the all of India who through the rough times has always motivated me to play for them. Am I feeling like I have been disrespected? YES. Do I feel like its (the men's doubles selections) not on merit? YES. Is it hard? YES. But then, we are professionals I have to put all the negatives aside and play for the cause I have been playing all my life and that's playing for the flag and the millions of Indians who have supported me,” Paes told HT in an interview.

Talking about taking the back-hand court in mixed doubles, Paes said that it hardly matters to him. “I have won here with the backhand before. With Lisa Raymond. Barely two weeks ago, I was in the final here (mixed doubles) and literally two games away from winning. I feel very comfortable here. You are playing at a world-class level here and the margin between winning and losing is a few shots. It does not matter which side of the court you play. For me, I am comfortable with either. I started off my career from the backhand side and did really well. In mixed doubles it is more important for the woman to be comfortable about what side she wants to play from especially since Sania has got a good return of serve. The more returns she gets into play, the better off we are for the other team's under pressure then,” said Paes.

Coming to Saina Nehwal Indian fourth seed Saina Nehwal said on Wednesday she hoped to draw on her Olympic experience as she contemplates a tough draw at London 2012, says  report in The DNA. Nehwal faces potential hurdles in the shape of The Netherlands’ Yao Jie and Dane Tine Baun, who is seventh in the world rankings, long before the semifinals – with world No 1 Wang Yihan also in her half of the draw.

“The draw looks quite tough. I’ve played them before and they’ve given me challenges. I’m expecting good matches. But I’m just going to take it one match at a time,” said Nehwal, who made her Olympic debut at Beijing 2008. “I have developed as a player. This is my second Olympics and I want to be more relaxed and not take on too much pressure.”