Paes has little chance of a medal — Vace

NEW DELHI, SEPTEMBER 8: Despite the hype, tennis may not give India a medal at the Olympics this year. Ask Dr Vace Paes and he says his so...

NEW DELHI, SEPTEMBER 8: Despite the hype, tennis may not give India a medal at the Olympics this year. Ask Dr Vace Paes and he says his son, Leander “will struggle to retain the singles bronze he won at Atlanta. If he wins a singles medal, it will be nothing short of a miracle.”

That’s not all. Leander’s doubles partner, Mahesh Bhupathi’s shoulder injury has flared up again, according to Dr Paes, and with only days left for the event, the duo has a lot to catch up with.

“Right now they are practising in New York, having stayed back after their first-round US Open defeat. Leander is fine but, Mahesh’s injury can pose problems, even though it is not very serious at this stage. Mahesh is a good server and that helps Leander tackle the service return on the net itself. If his shoulder is not 100 per cent okay, Mahesh’s serve will lose that sting. The two will have to alter their game then,” Dr Paes said.

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“In fact, that was the main reason they pulled out of the Tashkent tourney. Yes, Leander feels honoured at the prospects of carrying the national tricolour in the opening ceremony in Sydney, but he would have been far more happier had the two gone to Tashkent and won the event there,” he said, putting to rest speculations about how Leander wanted to carry the flag and why he gave the Tashkent event a miss, as it would have run into the Sydney opening ceremony.

“In Tashkent, Leander and Mahesh would have gained in practice, coming together after a nine-month separation, and that would have kept them in good stead. Also, there was good money and valuable ATP points to be lapped up,” he said.

Police personnel seen to control the situation during a massive protest over the statehood demand and the inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule, in Leh on Wednesday. (ANI Video Grab)

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