It was one of the most talked about controversies in the history of Indian sport - when, in 2012, for over a month or so, who would represent India at the London Olympics was a mystery. It might have also cost the country a tennis medal. Unfortunately for Indian sport the controversy is all set to repeat itself as selection day is finally upon us for Rio 2016. Unlike London, in 2016 there are three principal characters in this real life filmic rendition.
BCCL
First is Sania Mirza, playing the tennis of her life in the last two years and one who is an automatic entry into the Olympics by virtue of her number 1 ranking in women¡¯s doubles. Sania, deservedly, has the right to choose who she prefers to play with in both women¡¯s doubles and mixed doubles.
BCCL
Second is Rohan Bopanna who has done enough to make it back into the top 10 and is now eligible to choose the partner of his choice. Rohan, who partnered Mahesh Bhupathi in London, might prefer Saketh Myneni or Yuki Bhambri if given the freedom to choose.
Reuters
Third is Leander Paes, fresh from the French Open mixed doubles win, and someone who is going for an unbelievable seventh Olympic Games. Leander, who had fallen in the rankings in 2015, did well at Roland Garros in both men¡¯s doubles and mixed to bring himself back in contention.
BCCL
In a normal scenario, it is a simple choice. Rohan would pick Leander as the country's second highest ranked doubles player and the matter ends right there. Coming to Sania she could pick either and given Leander¡¯s record in mixed doubles, for the lay man he ought to be the preferred choice.
However, the reality is far more complex. Sania and Leander both play the same side of the court and have never gelled well as a pair. Rather, Rohan and Sania have played well together in the IPTL representing the Indian Aces and if the Sania's camp is to be believed, she would prefer Rohan over Leander.
AFP
Sania feels she will have a better chance of a medal if she partners Rohan instead. While there is merit in the argument, Leander will clearly feel hard done as a result just like Mahesh Bhupathi did in 2012 after having won the French Open partnering Sania. Instead of allowing Mahesh and Sania to partner at the Olympics, AITA, in a compromise formula, pushed the Leander-Sania combine because Leander had to play with Vishnu Vardhan in men¡¯s doubles with Mahesh and Rohan opting to play together.
Realistically speaking India¡¯s best chance of a medal is in the mixed doubles at Rio. Whoever Rohan partners in men¡¯s doubles ¨C Leander, Yuki or Saketh ¨C will have a distant chance of a medal at Rio 2016 with the big guns like Federer-Wawrinka opting to play together. That¡¯s what makes the mixed doubles selection all the more contentious.
AFP
Rohan has done reasonably well in doubles but not so well in the mixed event in the last one year or so. But to his advantage he plays the deuce court, which makes his pairing with Sania that much more feasible. While Leander has had exceptional success in the mixed doubles event playing with Martina Hingis, the fact that it is with Hingis makes his pairing with Sania that much more difficult. Sania and Hingis play well together because they are a perfect foil for each other and have complementary strengths. The very same thing applies for Hingis and Leander. So to just say that the Lee-Sania combine is the best for India isn¡¯t the best argument. On the other hand, given Leander¡¯s experience, his missing out from a record 7th Olympics will be sad for Indian sport.
If the rumours are to be believed, the AITA may well try and convince Rohan to play with Leander and in turn facilitate his partnering Sania in a gesture that will be the best compromise formula yet again. For, if they don¡¯t do so, Leander stands to miss out on Rio altogether because unless you are picked for the doubles team, you don¡¯t get to play mixed. But Leander will hardly be satisfied with this and if his public pronouncements are anything to go by will feel this isn¡¯t the best Indian team for Rio citing his four mixed slams in the last fifteen months.
AFP
Whichever way this controversy ends, there is one pronounced loser and that is Indian sport. The Sushil Narsingh saga and now this, it is hardly ideal preparation for Rio 2016 with just a little more than 50 days to go.