India’s medal prospects within the tennis occasion of the Tokyo Olympics suffered a setback, with Rohan Bopanna and Divij Sharan lacking the reduce for the boys’s doubles, which additionally dominated out the nation’s presence within the combined crew occasion, its finest for a podium end. have an opportunity.
It was anticipated that with a low mixed rating of 113, the entry of Bopanna (38) and left-hander Sharan (75) would rely largely on clearance.
“The ITF has confirmed that Bopanna and Divij can’t be included as a crew within the males’s doubles squad. However, issues could change by July 16 (if there are extra withdrawals),” an AITA supply informed PTI.
All India Tennis Association (AITA) common secretary Anil Dhupar, when contacted, mentioned that he would be capable to give a transparent image solely when he has an entire entry listing in hand.
Despite some withdrawals, the cut-offs for 22 groups out of 24 direct acceptances have been within the mid-60s, however the closing cut-off couldn’t be confirmed.
Even if there are extra withdrawals, will probably be very troublesome for India to make a crew in males’s doubles.
Priority will likely be given to the singles ranked gamers, then the singles-doubles mixture after which the doubles-ranked mixture.
Since many prime gamers are usually not a part of the singles draw, the lower-ranked gamers, who additionally compete in doubles consecutively, is not going to miss the chance to play in two occasions on the Olympics.
Each participant is allowed to seem in two occasions.
According to the principles, solely gamers who’re already in the principle draw (both our doubles singles) might be a part of a combined crew occasion.
In India’s case, it was obligatory for Bopanna to be within the males’s doubles to pair with Sania Mirza, who is about to compete in her fourth Olympics within the ladies’s doubles occasion with Ankita Raina.
Sania and Rohan got here near profitable the bronze medal in 2016 however they misplaced the bronze medal in straight units to Radek Stepanek and Lucie Hradeka of the Czech Republic.
Limited alternatives within the context of the event because of the COVID-19 lockdown and journey restrictions made it troublesome for each Bopanna and Sharan to enhance their rankings.
Bopanna was ranked thirty eighth in the beginning of the yr whereas Sharan’s rating deteriorated after beginning at 63rd.
India has by no means shied away from fielding a males’s doubles crew on the Olympics because the competitors between younger Leander Paes and Ramesh Krishnan on the 1992 Barcelona Games.
In the later editions, Paes was principally with Mahesh Bhupathi. In 2016, Paes and Bopanna fought and misplaced within the first spherical.
.
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
