Indian tennis stars hoping to rise at Rio
Rio de Janeiro, Aug 5 (IANS) With three established though squabbling players of the professional tennis circuit in its ranks, India hopes to bag at least a medal in this discipline at the Rio Olympics.
India’s biggest so far contingent to Olympics this year is raising expectations of the largest medals haul at the summer Games — and tennis will naturally be keenly followed back home with expectations of podium finishes.
India will compete in three categories — Leander Paes-Rohan Bopanna in the men’s doubles, Sania Mirza-Prarthana Thombare in the women’s doubles, and Bopanna-Sania in the mixed doubles.
India won six medals at the London Games in 2012, their best haul so far at the Olympics, but none in tennis.
India’s overall unimpressive record at the Olympics is in sync with its poor haul in tennis of just an individual bronze (by Paes in singles at Atlanta 1996).
Paes, India’s grand old Olympics statesman, in his record setting seventh appearance, is still very much around and will be rubbing shoulders with a younger Bopanna in men’s doubles.
The 43-year-old will dearly love to bow out of the international stage with another medal on his burgeoning trophy cabinet.
But he has long ceased to be a singles star on the professional circuit and Davis Cup that helped him win bronze at Atlanta.
He now needs help from Bopanna, currently India’s best ranked men’s doubles player on the pro circuit at No.15, for a glittering swansong after failing with Ramesh Krishnan in 1992 and Mahesh Bhupathi in 2004 in bronze medal matches.
But Paes-Bopanna’s worries are more for each other than their opponents. Their mutual dislike is well documented, Bopanna even going to the extent of preferring to partner lower-ranked Saketh Myneni instead of Paes.
The All India Tennis Association (AITA) intervention ensured a timely avoidance of another full blown war ala London 2012 that ruined medal hopes.
Mirza also poured salt to injury by stating in her recently-released autobiography that she was used as a pawn by AITA in the Paes-Bhupathi-Bopanna saga.
Seasoned campaigners like Paes, Bopanna are expected to keep their personal egos and petty squabbles aside to be at their premium for the country. But it is easier said than done.
They also lack match practice though they played together in the Davis Cup tie against South Korea in July in Chandigarh.
Paes has been a dwindling force in men’s doubles for over a year, dropping out of the top 50 rankings that pegged India’s doubles team at the 15th position.
They will face Poland’s Marcin Matkowski and Lukas Kubot in the first round on Saturday.
Sania’s pairing with Bopanna offers more hope. They are known to enjoy friendly relations on and off the court and their contrasting styles of play could be also be an advantage.
In the women’s doubles, the inexperienced Sania-Prarthana play against China’s Peng Shuai and Shuai Zhang in the first round.
I have been observing Sania Mirza’s tennis career from the time the media created hype and hoopla by entry into tennis single. Prime Minister and Sports Minister permitted her in their offices. Politicians, corporate houses, sports loving public, etc., instead of having the patience to wait, watch and see how she fares in singles, raised her to the sky. She has been given land, money, awards and generous dose of accolades. If my memory serves me right, when she was still a teenager, a corporate house or some institution had roped her in to speak on safe sex. Does it… Read more »
Very good observations by Nelson Lewis on a highly overrated ‘star’ from Hyderabad and her husband from a neighboring country. Nelson is also 100% right in his observations on a specific group and the bad habit of mixing religion into everything!!! It doesn’t really take a rocket scientist to see this reality. But it takes courage and honesty to admit these facts. This is precisely why our ‘journalists’ in ‘media’ never utter a word on these topics while reserving all of their fake-anger and fake-outrage only on Hindu groups.
Pursuant to my observations about Sania Mirza, she and her partner are out of the opening game of the mixed double at Rio. Sania Mirza has an attitude probem and suffers from a superiority complex, which has been aggravated by the government, sports authorities, corporate houses and general public by raising her to the sky and pampering her. She feels that she has done (and continues to do) a favour to India by sometimes winning in doubles and her partner is Martina Hingis, a sports person with incredible and impeccable credentials. She is not doing any favour for the country… Read more »
I wish the teenage gymnast, Deepa Karmakar, all the best. May she return to India with a medal, preferably gold.
I fail to understand why does the government select ex-sportsmen who have not participated in Olympics as Brand Ambassadors, rather than Sachin Tendulkar, who is from cricket – certainly not an Olympic or international sport. Again, why Salman Khan? What has Bollywood to do with Olympics. Secondly, he is facing criminal litigations for reckless driving and hunting black bucks and has been able to escape punishment due to being filthy rich and bribing witnesses.
Again, why Salman Khan? – Mr. Nelson Sir, when compared to that 50+ zero who thinks he is getting younger in age as days go by, I think there are more pressing issues in India. Numero uno among them is this bunch of hooligans who pass themselves off as ‘Gau Rakshaks’ and literally terrorize people. Here, take a look and tell me what you think of these vigilantes. http://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/four-stomachs-to-fill/296662 https://youtube.com/watch?v=V9Khh7PZJVQ https://youtube.com/watch?v=btwvg_OCscE https://youtube.com/watch?v=AkOPvcbQs58 ————————————————————————— I also wonder what out Yumreeki Gau Rakshak from Yumreeka – has to say to this. And hey, those Murudu statues asked me to convey you their… Read more »
Pakistan has sent a six member team, all wild card entries, which means they are not those based and playing in and for Pakistan, but people of Pakistani origin residing and settled abroad. These wild card entries did not have any elimination or qualifying rounds to shortlist and represent Pakistan at Rio Olympics. Forget about their rankings in respective sports. Such is the pathetic situation. They will be accompanied by a 10 member administrative staff who, as per one ex-player, have accompanied earlier contingents and, once there, they will have a good time, fun and frolic and buy medicines, balms,… Read more »
The word is out that Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza are both not going to play together in women doubles. It is reported that both are going to play the women’s doubles with different partners. Best of luck to both of them. I wonder if Sania Mirza will get a better partner than Martina Hingis though the latter, considering her age, may not be as athletic as she used to be in her prime.
Joker Praveena Pinto has managed to restore his internet connection after a few weeks of living offline!! Well, congratulations on his first salary at Pilikula. But, his old habit of responding with unrelated topic hasn’t changed. This report is on Olympics and he responds with some local ‘beef’ politics. As the kannada saying goes – ‘huttu guna ghatta ….”
Well, congratulations on his first salary at Pilikula. – Yumreeki ThyampaNNA
Ayyo, ThyampaNNA, I gave you a month ALONE out here in order to to allow you to dry-up so that your hallucinations would go away for good. Unfortunately, my best intention thus far has gone in vain. But then, what the heck? I have TRULY missed your jokes (such as – “restore his internet connection, first salary at Pilikula, unrelated topics” etc.
All I can sing is – May we have MANY more (jokes).
Attaboy, Rampa.