I am fit to partner Paes: SomdevReported by Deccan Herald on Thursday, 21 June 2012 (on June 21, 2012)
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 *In a new twist to the crisis in Indian tennis, Somdev Devvarman, who is recovering from a shoulder injury, today said he is fit to partner Leander Paes in the Olympics if asked by the All India Tennis Association (AITA).*
Amid the furore that has struck the game here, Somdev, who is in the Unites States after undergoing a shoulder surgery in January, said he is willing to partner Paes.
Paes, India's top-ranked doubles player in the ATP list, has threatened to pull out of the Olympics after being rejected as partner by Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna -- both of whom want to be sent as a team to the Games in London next month.
"If given a chance to play, I would play. I have told the AITA that I am ready. They have told me that they will send my entry for singles wildcard. I have no problem playing with Leander in doubles also. I am looking forward to it," Somdev told 'Times Now'.
Paes has rejected the two-team formula suggested by the AITA in which he was to be paired with a youngster such as Yuki Bhambri or Vishnu Vardhan.
If Somdev is available for selection, AITA would have the option of pairing him with Paes but the fitness of the 27-year-old, who has had a reasonably good run in the singles since arriving on the scene, is a major concern.
Somdev is currently ranked 240 in the singles chart, his progress hampered by the injury breakdown.
"The Olympics is five weeks away. I had my surgery in January. I feel pretty good right now. I have to be cautious to see how my shoulder holds up in the next few weeks but my doctors and I am optimistic that I should not have a problem," he said.
Somdev, however, refused to be drawn into the ongoing squabbling between Paes, Bhupathi and Bopanna, saying, "That's nothing I should comment on. My opinion doesn't matter on it. I should keep out of it."
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