Sania Mirza the ace tennis star and brand ambassador of Telangana gave her mind on the comments made by Leander Paes about the selection of tennis teams for Rio. She said “The ONLY way to win with a toxic person, is not to play!!! #karmaiswatching #zenmode,” Sania wrote on her Twitter handle.
The infighting among Indian tennis has flared up again with Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna lashing out at veteran Leander Paes for his remarks on the country’s doubles teams at the last two Olympics.
Talking to the media following India’s 0-5 loss to Spain in their Davis Cup World Group Play-off tie here, Paes said: “I can very, very clearly say that at the past two Olympics, we didn’t put the best teams forward. This Olympics, the mixed doubles was a huge opportunity.”
The reference to the mixed doubles combination was a direct criticism of Sania and Bopanna’s performance at the Rio Olympics. They had lost in the semifinals before going down in the bronze medal play-off as well.
Paes had said that the All India Tennis Association (AITA) had selected the wrong mixed doubles team, insisting that it should have been him and Sania instead.
India’s men’s doubles team at the 2016 Olympics comprised Paes and a reluctant Bopanna, whose original choice of partner was Saketh Myneni.
His views, however, evoked stinging responses from Sania and Bopanna.
The bitterness of not getting a shot at the Olympics mixed doubles event continues to rankle Leander Peas and the veteran Indian tennis star has no qualms in stating that the country did not send its best team in the event to Rio, according to media.
I can very clearly say that in this Olympics and last Olympics we didn’t put the best team forward. This Olympics the mixed doubles was a great opportunity. What more does a man need to do than win four Grand Slams in 14 months. There was no more tournaments to win, I could not create anymore tournaments. Sad. Long story short, let’s nurture these kids
Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna had been picked to represent India in the Games and the duo lost in the semifinals before going down in the bronze medal playoff.
