Peace with Paes, Karan146;s volte face

I need to focus more on my on-court activities rather than off it.8221;

I need to focus more on my on-court activities rather than off it.8221; That8217;s Karan Rastogi who, until a couple of days back, was a part of the players8217; revolt against Davis Cup captain Leander Paes. It may be recalled that Prakash Amritraj, Rohan Bopanna and Mahesh Bhupathi had written to the apex body AITA challenging Paes8217; ability as captain.

The Mumbai-based Rastogi says he has spoken to Paes about his issues and 8220;sorted it out,8221; adding, 8220;I had some issues which I discussed with the association AITA8230;something I don8217;t want to elaborate about, and 8220;not playing under Paes,8221; was certainly not an issue with me.8221;

But weren8217;t you a party to the email dashed off by Rohan Bopanna? 8220;I pulled out because my game was being affected. My aim is and will always be to play for the country and for that I need to play and not ponder upon who the captain is or not,8221; explains Rastogi.

Unwilling to be forced into a comment, Rastogi agrees that his decision had a lot to do with his parents too. 8220;We discussed about it at large and it was decided that I play, come what may.8221;

Rastogi is also aware that he could be branded as a 8216;fickle-minded,8217; but he says he doesn8217;t mind the label. 8220;Whatever be the case, I have a long way to go 8212;I have a lot of tennis left in me and I certainly needn8217;t be involved in any controversy.8221;

Rastogi, who8217;s played two 8216;away8217; ties against Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in 2007, says the past days have been nothing but 8220;nighmarish.8221; Incidentally Paes was the captain for both ties and handed Rastogi the responsibility of playing the opening day singles. Rastogi with a 0-3 W-L record since February 11, 2007 has spent a year without earning a recall.

Asked if he was, by any chance, forced into taking his decision, Rastogi reminds, 8220;I know where I got myself into. I want to stay clear of the present imbrogilio.8221;