AITA lambasts Hesh-Bopanna statement

AITA selector Rohit Rajpal termed the joint statement issued Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna, criticising the sports body for not considering their demand to select them as a team for London Olympics, as "unfortunate".

AITA shot down the duo's demand that they be selected as a team and not as individual players for the London Olympics but Bopanna and Bhupathi said they will not take AITA's decision lying down and will pursue their case.

"It's very unfortunate that they have come up with this statement. They should bury their differences and play for the pride of the country," Rajpal said.

Rajpal also said that the players will be gagged from talking to media soon.

"The code of conduct for the players is not in place right now, so we cannot do much. We cannot act immediately.

But appropriate measures will be taken, the code will come in a few days and the players will prevented from talking directly to media," he added.

Meanwhile, another AITA selection committee member S P Misra hoped Bhupathi will eventually agree to play with Paes.

"Somethings are said in the heat of the moment. I hope in a day or two, he will realise and will get ready for Olympics. It was a unanimous decision. We wanted a team, which was capable of winning a medal. In the end Bhupathi will agree," Misra said.

"And then he will also be eligible to play in the mixed doubles, if he plays the men's doubles with Leander," Misra, who is also India's Davis Cup captain, added.