New Delhi: After days of controversy and speculation All India Tennis Association (AITA) has finally decided to send two teams to the next month's London Olympics 2012.

Having weighed different options AITA has decided to pair up Rohan Bopanna and Mahesh Bhupathi whereas Leander Paes would partner Vishnu Vardhan.

The apex body for tennis said at a press conference that the decision was taken in best interest of Olympics and expects the players to accept the decision.
" The decision has been taken keeping the best interest of the players and the nation," said Anil Khanna, president of AITA.

Now the decision might have pleased Bhupati-Bopanna but it would not go down well with Paes who earlier made it clear that he would pull out if he is asked to play with a lower ranked player to accommodate Bhupathi- Bopanna as a team.

AITA has accepted that this settlement is unfair to Paes but then this has been done keeping in mind the national interest. "Paes has not been told about this yet but then we are sure that he would agree to it and given the patriot that he has been over the years we are hopeful that Paes will make the sacrifice," added Khanna in a press conference to announce the team.

The whole controversy arose after Paes ranked World number 7 in doubles was named to play with Bhupathi. But then Bhupathi and subsequently Bopanna refused to play with Paes citing that these two have been preparing to play in Olympics and were under prepared to team up with Paes.

The team might have been announced by the AITA but then cloud of uncertainty still looms over as Paes who is country's number one player has still not agreed and given his nod to the decision.

By Samikshan Dutta Choudhary

Indian Sports News