Road to Rio: If experienced Leander Paes-Rohan Bopanna adapt together, they can go far at Olympics 2016

Name: Leander Paes and Rohan Bopanna Age: 43 and 36 Discipline: Tennis Category: Men’s Doubles Qualification: Bopanna finished in the top 10 of the ATP Doubles Rankings in June 2016 to seal a berth for India Strengths: The combined ranking of the Indian pair may not be high enough but their combined strength is in their and consistent style of play and vast experience together and otherwise. Paes is often considered among the best in the world and Bopanna is highest ranked Indians on tour, making them a considerable force to reckon with, and the recent performance in the Davis Cup will only serve to increase their confidence. Past Olympic performance: This is the seventh consecutive Olympic appearance for Paes, who won a single’s bronze medal at the 1996 Atlanta Games. In doubles, Paes’ best Olympic finish was the fourth place at Athens 2004 with Mahesh Bhupathi, where they missed a bronze. This is Bopanna’s second Olympics after partnering Mahesh Bhupathi at London 2012, where the pair were ousted in the second round. Past record: Paes is one of the most decorated doubles players in the world having won eight doubles and ten mixed doubles Grand Slam titles, including a career Grand Slam in men’s doubles and mixed doubles. In addition, he has won nine medals, including five gold, representing India at various multi-sport events. Bopanna is currently among the best doubles players, with a highest ranking of three in 2013. He has 14 doubles career titles and was the runner up at 2010 US Open, his best performance at a Grand Slam. Rio Prospects: With a competitive field and potential friction between the pair, their chances of a medal do not look high. However, both are among the top international men’s doubles players and if they adapt together quickly, they could go far in the Olympics, and on their day, even beat some of the best. [caption id=“attachment_2902236” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Leander Paes and Rohan Bopanna. PTI[/caption] To say that Paes-Bopanna's 'Road to Rio' was contentious and controversial would be an understatement. In the absence of wildcards, Bopanna was the one who secured a doubles’ berth for India and made it quite clear that Paes, an Olympic veteran, was not his preferred choice of partner. This seemed like a repeat of the farce ahead of the 2012 Games, when Bopanna refused to play with Paes, who ended up playing with Vishnu Vardhan. Both pairs crashed out in the second round. This time as well, Bopanna insisted on playing with the much-lower ranked Saketh Myneni instead of Paes, claiming that the youngster suited his style of play better. However, with the intervention of the AITA and Bopanna being given the mixed doubles slot with Sania Mirza, the issue was resolved and Paes, whose ranking plummeted to below 40 in the last year, is set to represent India at a seventh straight Olympics. But the bad blood seems to be behind them now, as the two got together to take photos, dance, play and win their Davis Cup match against South Korea in July. This performance and show of strength and camaraderie weeks before the Olympics is a good sign. The 2016 Olympics will be crucial for both Paes and Bopanna. This is the last shot the 43-year-old is bound to get to go out there and represent his country. As for the 36-year-old, he may be India’s best doubles player at the moment, but this may as well be his best shot at the Olympics. Age is not on the side of either player, and four years is a long time. Bopanna will be eager to make his second time count, while Paes will be hoping to let his raquet do the talking. Spurred by necessity and love for the game, the pair will also have a lot more than national pride riding on their performance. The will be intense pressure and immense scrutiny, especially on Paes, and a good showing means that the theatrics of the past can be forgotten. Having said that, Paes does have the advantage of experience by virtue of representing India at multi-sport events for over three decades. In men’s doubles, Paes has won the gold at 1994 and 2002 Asian Games with Gaurav Natekar and Mahesh Bhupathi respectively. He also won a bronze medal  at the 2010 Commonwealth Games with Bhupathi. Paes has maintained that he and Bopanna are India’s best bet the Olympics. “We are playing at a very high level. My career speaks for itself and Rohan has also been doing well in last 18 months. We both are ready and without a shadow of doubt, me and Rohan are the best team,” he had said. However, the fact that he was not his partner’s first choice might play on his mind as men’s doubles will be his only event. Bopanna, on the other hand, will partner Sania Mirza in the mixed doubles, which offers him the better chance of a medal. After the AITA decision, Bopanna had acquiesced and stated that he shares good court chemistry with Paes. “Chemistry was great. If it wasn’t good, we could not have got such convincing win. We did not push much and just made sure that we come out strong,” Bopanna had said after they bea t the Korean pair of Hong Chung and Seong Chan Hong 6-3 6-4 6-4 in the doubles encounter to seal the tie for India in Davis Cup. Individually, both Paes and Bopanna are competent athletes who have done well internationally and, armed with their collective experience, they will hope to channelise this chemistry and reach as far ahead in the competition as they can. With inputs from agencies