India will field a second-string tennis contingent in this month’s Asian Games after allowing front-line players, including Leander Paes and Sania Mirza, to play on the professional tours instead to revive their rankings.
India’s top singles player Somdev Devvarman has already announced he will not defend the singles and men’s doubles gold medals he won four years ago in Guangzhou, China, citing the same reason.
“Special circumstances have developed where it is necessary for the players to participate in ATP and WTA events to protect their rankings and… qualify for the yearned World Masters,” All India Tennis Association (AITA) president Anil Khanna said in a statement issued yesterday.
