New Delhi: Sania Mirza on Monday said that the bitter London Olympics tennis selection row created bad blood among the players and also strained her relationship with Mahesh Bhupathi but she has left it behind to focus on winning a medal in mixed-doubles with Leander Paes.
Paes was forced to pair with lower-ranked Vishnu Vardhan in men's doubles after both Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna refused to play with him. He was paired up with Sania in mixed-doubles as a compromise.
"The controversy did not do anything good to anybody. It created bad blood among us and that is very unfortunate. I am happy that it is over and I can now concentrate on doing well at the Olympics with Leander and win a medal," Sania said.
"Let us move forward and focus on winning a medal. Leander reached the final at the Wimbledon and that is the positive thing. I and Mahesh lost and that was unfortunate. We should have been playing in the final," she said.
Sania said that the selection row also strained her relationships with Bhupathi. "It was difficult to block the controversy from my mind and it was disturbing me. The situation did not arise because of what I said. Mahesh and I have been very good friends but the controversy did strain our friendship," she said.
Sania said that she had preferred to play with Bhupathi in mixed-doubles but with Paes also, they can have a good shot at a medal. "Leander is a very good player and long time friend. I have played with him also for long. It's an honour to be playing with him in Olympics. I am in good form, won French Open [with Bhupathi]. He [Paes] reached the final of Wimbledon and so he is also in great form. We can have a very good shot for a medal," she said.
Sania has won medals in the Commonwealth and Asian Games and the Afro-Asian Games also, and she said she now wants an Olympic medal in her cupboard.
"I have 12 medals, including those in CWG, Asian Games and Afro-Asian Games. Only an Olympic medal is left to be won. So this time I hope me and Leander get one," said Sania.
Asked when she is going to practice with Paes before the Olympics, Sania said, "I have not heard or met Leander [recently]. He was in Wimbledon final but could not meet him. Captain SP Mishra contacted everybody saying that he wants everybody to be in London by July 23 and so I will be there by then.
"I will be going to the United States and play in San Diego. From there I will be in London and after July 23 I think I can start practice with Leander."
Sania disagreed with the perception that winning a medal in the mixed-doubles will be comparatively easier as it would be a 16-team draw. "I think it is wrong that mixed doubles competition will be easy. People say if you win two matches then you are in the semi-final and a shot in the medal. But the draw is very tough, the best pairs in the world are in the draw and it won't be easy to win the matches," she said.
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