Sports Ministry steps in as tennis row escalates

On a day of dramatic developments, Bhupathi fired the first salvo, complaining to the ministry about AITA pairing him with Paes despite his strong reservations.

"We failed to understand how, without notice, putting together a combination of two players who haven't played together in months serves the interest of the country," Bhupathi, the 12-time Grand Slam winner, wrote in his letter. Bhupathi in his strongly-worded letter to Sports Minister Ajay Maken, said "the manner in which this has been communicated and handled by the All India Tennis Association defies logic".

"If the objective, as proved by latter events, was to send only one team, why was this not communicated to the players clearly and well in advance such that the team proposed to be sent to the Olympics could train together and play together?" Bhupathi asked.

Bopanna said he was approached by the AITA with a request to pair with Paes as their 'second choice' team. "With all respect and humility, I have been unable to accept AITA's offer and have communicated my decision to them in writing this morning," Bopanna said in a statement. He said the very basis of his forming a team with Bhupathi was to play in Olympics together and the tennis body not only knew about it, but encouraged them.