Somdev gets singles wild card; Sania Mirza-Rushmi also get nod
Somdev Devvarman will realise his dream of representing the country at the Olympics as the International Tennis Federation has allotted an invitation place to the Indian for the 2012 London Games. Somdev has recovered from his shoulder injury in time to land the wild card.
The ITF has also awarded wild card to Sania Mirza and Rushmi Chakravarthy to compete in women’s doubles thus paving way for the Hyderabadi to also play in the mixed doubles with Leander Paes, as per the All India Tennis Association’s directive.
An excited Somdev said it’s a dream-come-true moment for him. “I have recovered from a shoulder injury and been training hard. It’s been my dream to represent India at the Olympics and I am ready to my best foot forward,” Somdev told this newspaper.
In the strongest ever Olympics entries, which was revealed on Tuesday, three of the four gold medallists from 2008 Beijing Olympics (Rafael Nadal (Singles), Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka (men’s doubles), and two-time champions Venus and Serena Williams (women’s doubles) will return to defend their titles.
According to the list, as many as 45 countries will compete at the All England Club. Nineteen (19) of the current world’s top-20 will contest both the men’s and women’s events, with the exceptions being American Mardy Fish and French woman Marion Bartoli (FRA). Defending singles champion Elena Dementieva from Russia has already retired.
In the men’s singles, there are 56 direct acceptances and eight ITF Places; while in the women’s singles, there are 56 direct acceptances, six ITF Places and two Tripartite Commission Invitation Places. Thirty-two (32) teams will contest both the men’s and women’s doubles, with 24 direct acceptances and eight ITF Places in both events.
Indians (Leander Paes/Vishnu Vardhan, Mahesh Bhupathi/Rohan Bopanna) have their task cut out as the line-up in the men’s doubles has all the top singles stars. Bryan Brothers are likely to be the top seeds. Novak Djokovic is pairing up with Victor Troicki, while Spaniard Rafael Nadal is joining hands with Marcel Granollers.
Entries for the 16-team mixed doubles will be determined on site from those players already participating in singles or doubles. Teams have to be nominated by their National Olympic Committee by July 31. There will be 12 direct acceptances based on the combined world rankings of each team on June 11, and four ITF Places.
India’s entry list:
* Singles: Somdev Devvarman
* Doubles: Leander Paes/Vishnu Vardhan, Mahesh Bhupathi/Rohan Bopanna
* Women's doubles: Rushmi Chakravarthi/Sania Mirza.
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