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Journalism of Courage
NEW DELHI, AUG 4: The All India Tennis Association (AITA) may have assured Jaidip Mukherjea his job as Davis Cup captain. But the tough job ahead lies in trying to manage a team which is not exactly revelling in bonhomie and camaraderie.
Speaking to The Indian Express from Calcutta, he agreed that he had some problems’ with Leander Paes but felt that that “things have been sorted out. The two senior players are like my sons… I am surprised at the speculation going on over my captaincy.
“The results speak for themselves. People have started talking because of that one loss against South Korea in February last. Against Britain last year, we were expected to win only the doubles. I had even asked Leander whether he had any problems with me, personal or otherwise. He had always respected me as a tennis player and captain and does not have to hide anything from me. Moreover, his commitment to Davis Cup is above doubt.”
What Mukherjea would find difficult is to keep the two best doubles playersin the team and still manage to get the best out of them. The captain was quick to dispel the fact that the defeat to South Korea was more because of the problems in the team than anything else. “We were done in by the weather more than anything,” he explained.
While at pains to describe the team unity as “very good”, Mukherjea said that he will be around as long as the team wants him. “I am not getting any younger and it’s not that I want to hang on as captain for ever. Both Leander and Mahesh have been good teammates and considering that they are top athletes there could have been some friction. But that is old hat. Otherwise, how can they win two Grand Slams on the trot? Their performance on the court is more important. How they get together off it is their problem.”
