This Article is From Sep 18, 2012

Mahesh Bhupathi vs AITA


Sep 18, 2012 15:02 (IST)
So that was 12-times Grand Slam winner Mahesh Bhupathi, reacting on a two-year ban slapped on him by the All India Tennis Association.
Sep 18, 2012 15:01 (IST)
Anil Khanna re-defined the term 'divide-and-rule'.
Sep 18, 2012 14:56 (IST)
AITA has taken out its personal grudge against me.
Sep 18, 2012 14:54 (IST)
I'm not doing anything to prove a point. I love tennis, and I love being involved with anything to do with the game. That's why I work with kids.
Sep 18, 2012 14:53 (IST)
I had conveyed to Anil Khanna back in 2007 that I'm willing to be a part AITA and help developing the sport in India. But it wasn't accepted. I think they don't want any player to be a part of it.
Sep 18, 2012 14:51 (IST)
I don't know if my stance is that of a rebellion. But I don't think so. A rebellion won't change anything.
Sep 18, 2012 14:51 (IST)
Being termed a 'traitor' is unacceptable.
Sep 18, 2012 14:50 (IST)
I'd like to see my daughter playing tennis, for sure.
Sep 18, 2012 14:50 (IST)
Rohan wanted to be here today (at press conference). But he has 8-10 years of tennis ahead. SO I wanted him to be out of this. These (AITA) people can be very vindictive.
Sep 18, 2012 14:49 (IST)
Rohan is extremely upset.
Sep 18, 2012 14:49 (IST)
The number of good luck messages I got today, I haven't received so many before a Grand Slam.
Sep 18, 2012 14:48 (IST)
I don't see where the debate is in pairing two guys who are playing together and are doing good together.
Sep 18, 2012 14:47 (IST)
I was told by people that now that two teams are going, let's prepare to do well (in Olympics).
Sep 18, 2012 14:46 (IST)
I actually don't know whom to complain to.
Sep 18, 2012 14:46 (IST)
Two years (ban) is a long time, I really don't know if I'll be playing tennis till then.
Sep 18, 2012 14:46 (IST)
People responsible to bring up the sport in the country should resign and walk off if they haven't been able to do anything good.
Sep 18, 2012 14:45 (IST)
Me being termed a traitor is unacceptable, will explore legal options: Mahesh Bhupathi
Sep 18, 2012 14:45 (IST)
India is such a big country, and in the bigger context of things we still have hardly that many players at the top level.
Sep 18, 2012 14:44 (IST)
I have always tried to extend my hand to Anil so that we could work together for tennis in India, but with no avail.
Sep 18, 2012 14:43 (IST)
I have been doing things for tennis in India that Anil Khanna should be doing.
Sep 18, 2012 14:43 (IST)
Amil (Khanna) has problem with me because I have managed to find out ways to do something for the sport.
Sep 18, 2012 14:42 (IST)
Two weeks after we won the French Open, AITA told us that 'sorry guys, you and Rohan can't pair up for Olympics'.
Sep 18, 2012 14:41 (IST)
I have tried to do everything by the book, following procedures.
Sep 18, 2012 14:41 (IST)
AITA could have said at the beginning of the year itself that only the top ranked players will be paired.
Sep 18, 2012 14:40 (IST)
And we had initiated communication with the federation too a long time ago.
Sep 18, 2012 14:40 (IST)
Rohan and I had paired up with the aim of performing well in Olympic.
Sep 18, 2012 14:39 (IST)
AITA shut us out at every step.
Sep 18, 2012 14:39 (IST)
It's very frustrating.
Sep 18, 2012 14:38 (IST)
Sad to say, but lot of people celebrated when we lost (in Olympics).
Sep 18, 2012 14:38 (IST)
Mahesh Bhupati: We still don't have clear answers as to why we were banned. They don't have a code of conduct.
Sep 18, 2012 14:37 (IST)
But there's always some politics going on in AITA.
Sep 18, 2012 14:37 (IST)
That was before Olympics, because I and Rohan were best prepared together.
Sep 18, 2012 14:37 (IST)
AITA was initially sympathetic to us.
Sep 18, 2012 14:36 (IST)
Don't know about all the committees, but actually it's one person (Anil Khanna) who takes the decisions.
Sep 18, 2012 14:36 (IST)
AITA's system doesn't help youngsters.
Sep 18, 2012 14:35 (IST)
I and Rohan have asked AITA in an email what are we being punished for exactly.
Sep 18, 2012 14:34 (IST)
But we are exploring legal options.
Sep 18, 2012 14:34 (IST)
As far as the ban goes, I don't know if there's an option of not accepting it.
Sep 18, 2012 14:34 (IST)
AITA's ban has crossed the line.
Sep 18, 2012 14:33 (IST)
As for me, I was always 'banned'. As the AITA never supported my initiatives.
Sep 18, 2012 14:32 (IST)
I feel bad for my friend and partner Rohan Bopanna, for he got trapped in the crossfire and politics.
Sep 18, 2012 14:32 (IST)
It is sad to get a ban at the twilight of my career. After 18 years of playing.
Sep 18, 2012 14:31 (IST)
And people thought it was a problem between me and Leander.
Sep 18, 2012 14:31 (IST)
Anil Khanna has enjoyed the rift between me and Leander.
Sep 18, 2012 14:31 (IST)
Anil Khanna has used Leander's shoulder to train his gun against me.
Sep 18, 2012 14:30 (IST)
Tennis is my blood.
Sep 18, 2012 14:30 (IST)
"I have become thick skinned (in reaction to AITA's decisions)."
Sep 18, 2012 14:30 (IST)
"Over the years, funding for the programmes that I conduct for the upcoming players were shunned (by AITA)," says Bhupathi.
Sep 18, 2012 14:29 (IST)
Mahesh is presenting a copy of his correspondence with AITA with media.
Sep 18, 2012 14:28 (IST)
Mahesh gets on with his press adress.

Sep 18, 2012 13:50 (IST)
And we shall be tracking it closely.
Sep 18, 2012 13:49 (IST)
And quite a few people are expecting some explosive statements from Bhupathi during the press conference.
Sep 18, 2012 13:47 (IST)
The tennis ace will speak to the media for the first time after being banned by the All India Tennis Association (AITA) today at 2pm in Mumbai.
Sep 18, 2012 13:46 (IST)
"Diwali is coming early"... at least that's what quite a few Mahesh Bhupathi's well-wishers think.
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