JOIN USAll India Tennis Association (AITA) has decided not to consider Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna for selection in Davis Cup till June 2014.
The AITA had dropped the two on disciplinary grounds after they rebelled against the selection committee’s decision to pair either with Leander Paes for the London Olympics.
The AITA had dropped them for the indefinite time ahead of India’s Asia-Oceania relegation play-off tie against New Zealand. Yuki Bhambri, Vishnu Vardhan, Divij Sharan and Sanam Singh were picked in the team with Saketh Myneni and Sriram Balaji as reserves. The young team on Saturday took an unbeatable 3-0 lead over the visitors.
In its executive meeting that was held on Saturday evening, AITA decided to drop the two till June 30, 2014 and continue with the present team till the next year. “All India Tennis Association in its Executive Committee Meeting held in Chandigarh on 15 Sep 2012 had decided to continue with the young team in its Davis Cup matches in the year 2013 Asia/Oceania Zone,” AITA secretary-general Bharat Oza said in a statement.
“It has further decided not to consider Mr Mahesh Bhupathi and Mr Rohan Bopanna for selection to play for India till 30 June 2014.”
Bhupathi and Bopanna had insisted to form their own team for the London Olympics and were playing on tour from the beginning of the year. Both refused to partner Paes that led to a raging controversy before the Games and an upset Paes was forced to partner Vardhan.
Bhupathi, 38, will find it difficult to return to the squad. He along with Paes made a formidable pairing in Davis Cup with an enviable 25-2 record.