Fierce shot, strong return, cheeky drop shot, helpless leave
and a brutal serve is what Bhupathi, Paes, Bopanna, AITA officials and Sania respectively
have had to offer over the last couple of weeks; all in the verbal sense of it!
The Olympics are barely a month away and at a time when India is about to send
its largest contingent for tennis, here we are debating and analyzing what the
players have to say about each other and about the governing body, rather than
discussing their skills and potential ability to win medals. Each of the
enlisted entity have had its elaborate share of washing dirty linen in public
and the latest to that is India’s highest ranked ‘female’ tennis player.
So is Sania’s stance appropriate? Does that add to the
muddle that has already swelled to a point of embarrassment? For starters Sania’s
views are well timed and hence appear more than genuine; she spoke only after
her entry into the Olympics was confirmed. If you read the entire transcript completely
you will realize that her position has been well advocated, exaggerating the
language only wherever it should be (the part about male chauvinism). The
quotes sparked off sharp responses from many, including those who aren’t her
fans, the consensus endorsing her dissent about the kind of treatment that was
dished out.
Sania’s anger vented at Paes, Mahesh about the team
selections could be valid but should be overlooked, for each member of the
tennis team has now expressed his/her preferences. You could argue that she is
way to junior (with respect to experience) to Paes & Bhupathi and that
doesn’t give her the right to comment about her senior pros; but was the same
logic applied when Bopanna was raising objections to play alongside Paes? That
begs to ask - do we as fans/media treat our players in a sexist manner? The selectors
with their hands tied down could appear to have selected discriminately, but if
there exists any possibility of chauvinism then that deserves outright
condemnation.
What strikes you most is the part regarding the AITA &
the selectors. Yes she went overboard with her remarks about them, but isn’t
her stance valid and justified? In the process of selecting teams the panel gave
in to Bhupathi & Bopanna’s demand; in process enraging Leander. As expected
he was offered a deal of being paired up with Sania for the mixed doubles draw.
Leander & Sania forge India’s best team (in terms of ranking) but she has
played alongside Mahesh for the last 3 slams; doesn’t this fact reduce a medal
hope? In sports selectors are meant to be the authority to take a call on who
plays and alongwith whom, but when the selectors acceded to the demands of
Bhupathi, Bopanna and later Paes why wasn’t Sania consulted in the process?
After all she is the only Indian female player who has made it to the
international level with some credibility, and ranked way too far ahead of
other female compatriots.
The question isn’t of making Sania’s image more credible
than Leander/Bhupathi/Bopanna but of the addressing the valid concerns raised
by her. We shouldn’t forget that Leander & Bhupathi are India’s big medal
hopes, whoever they partner, and should continue to support our 7-membered
contingent without bias or preconceived notions. Let us hope that the last
couple of weeks are a phase of shadow boxing which is necessary to go into a
big tournament, perhaps to keep your mind and ambience uncluttered. Amidst all
this slugfest very few have noticed that Somdev and Rushmi too have got an
opportunity to participate in the extravaganza; a moment which could build a
legacy for the future of the game in this country. The mixed doubles saga doesn’t
seem to be over, but in the ‘best interest of the country’ it would be appropriate
if the players focus ‘only’ on their game at the Wimbledon and all the chatter is culminated!
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