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AITA to discuss 'revolt' issue on Thursday

February 27, 2008 20:11 IST

The All India Tennis Association has convened an executive committee meetingĀ in New Delhi on Thursday to find ways to douse the simmering controversy which rocked Indian tennis after top Davis Cuppers revolted against captain Leander Paes.

The president of AITA and former Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha will chair the meeting which was expected to deliberate at length on the revolt.

However, it will be a enormous task for the committee to arrive at a decision that will make everyone happy.

The unprecedented revolt, initiated by Prakash Amritraj, Rohan Bopanna, Mahesh Bhupathi and Karan Rastogi, created a flutter in tennis circles.

While AITA has come out in support of Paes, albeit, in guarded manner, one of the disgruntled players Rastogi has backed out of the protest.

Going by the comments of AITA General Secretary Anil Khanna and other top officials, it appears that the game's governing body in the country would stick with Paes as captain.

While Khanna had said a decision in the "best interest of Indian tennis" will be taken, a member of the selection commitee had said team's composition and captain can not be decided by players, providing enough hints that AITA was not willing to sacrifice Paes' position.

Even if AITA succeeds in getting the players to patch up with Paes again, the bitterness may remain which will only harm India's chances in the tough second round Davis Cup tie against Japan in April.

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