I am here to play sport not politics: Paes
The selection row that has rocked Indian tennis is nothing more than 'nonsense' that precedes every Olympics for veteran Leander Paes, who said despite being left disheartened he is focussed on playing 'sport and not politics'.
The 39-year-old had threatened to withdraw from the Olympics despite being India' number one doubles player after being paired with a much lower-ranked Vishnu Vardhan for the big event.
Paes' partners of choice -- Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna -- refused to combine with him and insisted on being sent as a team themselves. If that was not enough, his mixed doubles partner for the Games -- Sania Mirza -- also took a potshot at Paes by claiming that she was used as a 'bait' to pacify him.
The veteran said the controversy has been 'disheartening' but he is focussed on the task at hand.
"I am here to play sport and not politics," Paes said after winning his Wimbledon first-round match in the men's doubles with regular Czech partner Radek Stepanek.
"Unfortunately, I see the games being played within games, and as much as that is very disheartening, I am looking forward to playing my sixth Olympics for my country as I have played for 22 years for the people and the flag."
Paes, the world number seven doubles player, said he had no complaints about being paired with Vardhan, who is ranked 207 in the ATP list.
"I am looking forward to representing my country with the teams that the All India Tennis Association have selected," Paes said.
Asked about Sania's outburst, Paes refused any direct comment, saying, "Every Olympics has some nonsense coming in with it."
"I know how much hard work goes into what I do. (Either) people choose to respect it, which I'm very lucky that India does, (or) people choose to disrespect. That's their problem, not mine," Paes said.
The seven-time Grand Slam winner in men's doubles is a singles bronze medal winner from in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.
Paes, set to make a record sixth Olympic appearance, said he would look to help Vardhan, who would be making Games' debut in London.
"I don't even know if he has grass-court shoes. So it's a bit of a tough one. But he's a really good kid, I'm happy to play with him.
"Whatever the obstacles are, which I see are going to be many -- he's never been to Wimbledon before -- whatever I can do as an experienced professional athlete to help my partners out, I do," he said.
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