New Delhi: In the setback to the chances of Indian medals at the Tokyo Olympic tennis event, Rohan Bopanna and Divir Sharan had spent pieces to multiply men’s doubles, which also put aside the presence of the state in the mixed team competition, the best opportunity for the podium was finished.
It is hoped that with a low combined 113, Bopanna (38) and Sharan Kidal (75) entry will only depend on large-scale withdrawals.
“Itf has confirmed that Bopanna and Divi cannot be included as a team on the men’s doubles team.
However, things might change until July 16 (if there are more withdrawals),” said Sumber Aita to PTI.
When all Secretary General of the Indian Tennis Association (Aita), Anil Dhupar was contacted, he said he would be able to give a clear picture only when he had a list of complete entries in his hand.
Apart from several withdrawals, cuts for 22 teams from 24 aceptensions directly as high as in the mid 60s, according to the source, but the last cut-off cannot be confirmed.
Even if there are more withdrawals, it will be very difficult for India to have a team in a men’s doubles.
The first priority will be given to single rank players, then a double-double combination and then a double-double rating combination.
Because many top players are not part of a single draw, low-ranking players, which consistently compete in doubles too, will not miss the opportunity to play two events at the Olympics.
Every player is allowed to be in two events.
According to the rules, only players can be part of a mixed team event that is already at one of the main lotteries (both our double single).
In the case of India, it is very important for Bopanna to become a men’s double so that it can be paired with the Sania Mirza, which will compete in its fourth Olympics with Ankita Raina on a women’s doubles event.
Sania and Rohan approached the bronze win in 2016 but they lost the bronze-medal play-off to Radek Stepanek Czech Republic and Lucie Hradecka in a direct set.
The limited number of opportunities in terms of tournaments because of the covid-19 locking and travel restrictions made it difficult for Bopanna and Sharan to increase their ranking.
Bopanna was ranked 38th at the beginning of the year while Sharan’s ranking was worse after starting from 63.
India had never missed by deploying the men’s doubles team at the Olympics since a young Manander Paes and Ramesh Krishnan competed in the 1992 match in Barcelona.
In the edition after that, Paes was mostly there with Mahesh Bhupathi.
In 2016, Paes and Bopanna competed and got lost in the first round.