Wednesday November 22, 03:53 AM
Who will partner Sania is the big question now |
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When Leander Paes and Sania Mirza were to represent India at the Hopman Cup, it was seen as trailer before the big event next month - Doha Asian Games. But as it has turned out, Hyderabad won't be able to witness the 'possible' gold medal pair in action with Paes opting out. In return, what the city witnessed was the confusion over Paes' replacement and the chaotic running of the game in the country. While it seems it will be Rohan Bopanna who will partner Sania but till yesterday, the All India Tennis Association secretary Anil Khanna had hinted that it will be Mumbai boy Karan Rastogi who would play the Hopman Cup. Not just that, Rashtogi's tickets to Hyderabad were booked and the official reason for overlooking higher-ranked Bopanna was: 'He isn't fit'. With little choice, Rastogi accepts the decision sportingly. "AITA knows who is best and who should play," he told The Indian Express. Meanwhile, Bopanna underplays the 'not fit' part of the story. "It was only fever and cold, I'm okay now and fit," he says. As for the reason for Paes' withdrawal it is said the Indian star, after playing the Master semis with an injured index finger, wanted to take things easy before the Asian Games. After a day of ambiguity it seems things would be clear only tomorrow as an AITA official said, "let's see on Thursday who is playing." From the look of things, it will be Bopanna as he is expected to land here tomorrow morning.
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