The All India Tennis Association on Friday selected Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi for the men's doubles event at the London Olympics, rejecting the latter's insistence on being paired with Rohan Bopanna in the mega-event next month.
Indian football legend Chuni Goswami slammed the AITA for not acting firm against Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna in the Olympics doubles team selection row and said some action should be taken against them.
India's top two singles players Sumit Nagal and Sasi Kumar Mukund have conveyed to the national tennis federation that they won't travel to Pakistan for the next Davis Cup tie.
The AITA appointed three-member committee to look into players issue had its first meeting on Friday and observed that players-friendly conditions should prevail and for that it would seek help of both the Federation and the government.
The All India Tennis Association on Saturday lashed out at Australia for pulling out of next month's Davis Cup tie against India, saying they have acted in an "arrogant" and "irresponsible" manner "by creating a situation solely out of their mind and not based on facts". AITA also said it would convey its sentiments to the International Tennis Federation in a letter following Australia withdrawing from the May 8-10 Asia-Oceania Group I tie.
The All India Tennis Association in a statement said the Davis Cup is absolutely clean and no such incident has ever been heard of before or in recent past in India.
The All India Tennis Association on Sunday came up with a compromise formula to placate the revolting players as it accommodated some of their demands, such as change in support staff, but also kept its authority intact by keeping the final decision on all matters in its hand.
Stung by the two-year ban imposed on him, veteran tennis ace Mahesh Bhupathi hit back at the All India Tennis Association on Tuesday, accusing the game's governing body of resorting to 'divide-and-rule' policy and said its 'dictatorial attitude' will be harmful for the future of Indian tennis.
The AITA said it would again approach Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna to pair with Leander Paes, with first choice again being the experienced Mahesh Bhupathi.
Changing its stance towards Somdev Devvarman's pulling out of the Asian Games squad, the AITA said it supports the step taken by the top singles player of the country.
The Karnataka High court on Saturday stayed the two-year ban issued imposed on tennis players Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna by the All India Tennis Association on disciplinary grounds.
Bopanna is justified in picking a partner of his choice since rules permit him to do so, but at the same time it holds true that even if Bopanna had ended up at No. 11 in the world rankings on the cut-off date, he and Paes, with their combined ranking, would have made the draw by a margin if not comfortably.
Yashwant Sinha expressed displeasure over Rohan Bopanna's decision to opt out of the upcoming Davis Cup tie.
'Right from 2002, making my debut and 22 years later still getting to represent India. I'm extremely proud of that.'
Taking potshots at the All India Tennis Association, senior pro Mahesh Bhupathi, on Thursday, said he is not sure of pairing with Sania Mirza in the mixed doubles event of the London Olympics because of the national body's "funny politics".
Stung by the boycott of top players for the Davis Cup tie, a beleaguered AITA has decided to appoint a special committee to look into the grievances of the rebels even as the standoff showed no signs of ending with the tennis body and the players engaging in a fresh blame game.
The All India Tennis Association on Wednesday said they are examining the concerns of the eight elite players who have shot off a communication to the federation, demanding drastic changes in the way the country's Davis Cup team is handled by the AITA.
India's non-playing Davis Cup captain Mahesh Bhupathi, who was to be part of the conference call, told PTI that "call is cancelled till further notice".
The All India Tennis Association (AITA) on Thursday insisted that without its approval no ATP or WTA event can be organised in India. AITA sought to clear the air after some sections of the media quoted ATP as saying that it can sanction private bodies to hold events taking into account the organisers' ability and without any third party approval.
Veteran Indian tennis player Mahesh Bhupathi on Monday indicated that all his issues with the All India Tennis Association (AITA) have been sorted out and he may represent the country in the upcoming Davis Cup tie against Korea.
The All India Tennis Association (AITA) on Wednesday dismissed Mahesh Bhupathi's allegation that the national federation is run by only one man and asserted that it is a "democratic" institution.
According to sources, Sania's mother Naseema had rung up AITA Life President and ITF Vice President Anil Khanna on Thursday morning asking him to look into the reports that accuses Venus Williams to taking drugs at the Rio Games.
Keen to settle the payment dispute involving elite tennis players at the earliest, the Sports Ministry on Saturday said it was willing to clear the dues even on receiving the minimum documentation from AITA.
With speculation rife that Rio Olympics silver medallist Venus Williams was allegedly allowed to use prohibited substance under Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs) clause, Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza on Friday rubbished reports suggesting that she has demanded the All India Tennis Association (AITA) to raise the matter with the appropriate authorities.
India's Davis Cup captain will get Rs 250,000 for his fine showing in the Davis Cup match against New Zealand earlier this month.
Bhupathi had, on Sunday, made public his WatsApp chat with Paes, to counter accusations that he used his position as Davis Cup team captain to exclude the latter from the playing squad.
The AITA has retained the team for the Davis Cup tie against Japan, with Leander Paes at the helm of affairs.
The last time an Indian Davis Cup team travelled to Pakistan was way back in 1964.
The freezing cold made the conditions challenging for the players.
'If I keep criticising AITA, I won't get a call from them. I am still weighing my options. I have done a lot of good things, the work ethics, I have a lot to offer'
Zeeshan Ali will take over as India's non-playing captain, exactly 60 years after his father Akhtar Ali had played a key role in the country's Davis Cup victory in Pakistan in 1964.
Sticking to its stand, the All India Tennis Association on Saturday said it will not change the players' combination for the London Olympics despite Mahesh Bhupathi categorically rejecting his pairing with Leander Paes.
Veteran tennis star Mahesh Bhupathi threatened to drag the All India Tennis Association to the court for ousting him from India's Davis Cup squad, along with Rohan Bopanna, saying he is exploring whether the national federation's move is legal
India were on Thursday drawn to meet Sweden in an away Davis Cup World Group I tie in September.
India's ace doubles player Leander Paes wrote to the All India Tennis Association on Monday, saying it will be unfair on him if Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna are paired as a second team for the 2012 Olympics.
Chatwinder Singh, Tushar Liberhan and Divij Sharan will get Rs 25,000 each for travel expenses.
The All India Tennis Association's selection committee is gearing up for a stormy meeting in Bangalore on Friday to decide on the men's doubles combination for the London Olympics amidst reports that Rohan Bopanna and Mahesh Bhupathi are keen to play as a team instead of pairing with any other player.
The Indian Davis Cup squad will travel to Pakistan for the first time since 1964. India defeated Pakistan 4-0 in their most recent neutral site match in 2019.
Hauling itself up from World Group II should not be a complicated task for India when it takes on an unostentatious Morocco in the home tie, which will be more of a celebration of Rohan Bopanna's Davis Cup career.
It was a ceremony meant to honour their commitment to India's Davis Cup campaign over the years but just two of the eight chosen were present when the All India Tennis Association felicitated them in a brief ceremony in New Delhi on Saturday.
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