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29 March 2024

India's Leander Paes picked for seventh Olympics

Leander Paes of India in action in their first round mixed doubles match with Martina Hingis of Switzerland during the 2015 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 25, 2015 in Melbourne, Australia. (Getty Images)

Published
By AFP

Indian doubles veteran Leander Paes has been picked to play in his seventh Olympics, he said on Twitter Saturday, adding that he was "honoured" to be chosen.

Paes, 42, was selected by the All India Tennis Association (AITA) and will be paired with Rohan Bopanna to play in the men's doubles at the Rio Games in August.

He said on Twitter he was "Honoured...Humbled...Excited."

"The honour to represent India at Rio Olympics 2016 is a dream come true. I am thankful to the All India Tennis Association for bestowing me this opportunity to wear the Tri-colours on my heart once again," he wrote, referring to the Indian national flag.

Bopanna, 36, had sought to be paired with Saketh Myneni.

In a submission to the AITA, Bopanna had said he had "much admiration for Leander Paes and his many achievements, but unfortunately we have not been able to put together a good combination despite our best efforts and I do not believe our styles of play are either compatible or complementary".

But after the tennis body's decision was announced Bopanna tweeted a statement saying: "I respect this decision and look forward to participating in Rio."

Paes won the French Open mixed doubles title with Switzerland's Martina Hingis at Roland-Garros earlier this month.

The Kolkata-born player made his Davis Cup debut in 1990 and began his professional career a year later.

He made his mark as a singles player defeating Andre Agassi to win the bronze medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, a rare individual success for India.