JOIN USMahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna were on Saturday dropped from India’s forthcoming Davis Cup home tie against New Zealand as a punishment for their refusal last month to abide by All India Tennis Association’s (AITA) selection for the just-concluded London Olympics.
With Leander Paes excusing himself from the tie citing prior commitments, including the US Open, and Somdev Devvarman still recovering from a sore shoulder, the AITA selection committee decided to give youngsters a chance.
Vishnu Vardhan, Yuki Bhambri, Saketh Myneni, Divij Sharan, Sanam Singh and Sriram Balaji were the six players picked for the September 14-16 Asia-Oceania Group I tie in Chandigarh. S P Misra remains the non-playing captain.
The names of the final four will be decided by September 2 and sent to International Tennis Federation .
“The executive committee, in its meeting on July 1, decided that in view of the stand taken by Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna regarding the selection of the team for the Olympics, they should not be considered for the Davis Cup tie against New Zealand,” AITA secretary general Bharat Oza said.
“This view of the executive committee was endorsed by the honorary life president of AITA Yashwant Sinha.”
India’s no 1 doubles player Leander Paes, in the initial selection, was paired with Bhupathi, whose denial prompted selectors to approach Bopanna.
When both refused, a miffed Paes had no choice but to partner a relatively junior Vishnu Vardhan.