Xtra Time Web Desk: The All India Tennis Association (AITA) has condemned misleading and appropriate tweets by Rohan Bopanna and Sania Mirza for not selecting the former for the Indian squad for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics. Rohan Bopanna has held the AITA responsible for misleading the players and everyone else over Tokyo Olympics qualification.
Bopanna expressed his frustration and anger in a tweet about his non selection for the Tokyo Games. He tweeted, “ITF has never accepted an entry for Sumit Nagal & myself. ITF was clear that no changes were allowed after the nomination deadline (22nd June) unless Injury/Illness. AITA has misled the players, government, media and everyone else by stating we still have a chance (sic),”
Sania Mirza backed Rohan Bopanna and called the incident ‘ridiculous and shameful’ while blasting the AITA.
“Whaaattt???If this is true then it’s absolutely ridiculous and shameful..by this it also means that we have sacrificed a very good shot at a medal in the mixed doubles if you and I would have played as planned. We were both told that you and Sumit’s names have been given ..” she tweeted.
However, AITA Secretary-General Anil Dhupar on Monday hit back at both Rohan and Sania saying that “one shouldn’t be dependent on withdrawal of other players” to secure an Olympic berth.
In a statement released by AITA, it read, “Twitter comments by Rohan Bopanna and then Sania Mirza are inappropriate, misleading and it appears, without knowledge of the rules. They should have checked the rule book of ITF regarding qualifications, something that Divij Sharan seems to have done while writing to TOPS.”
Here is the statement from All India Tennis Association:
