Tennis Asian Games 2018, Indonesia - Jakarta Palembang 2018

[PKBasu]

I don't buy this narrative of blaming Leander for pulling out. There was no point him coming to the Asiad if he wasn't going to get a proper partner in men's doubles, and not play mixed doubles either. Rohan was unfit (he had hardly played for more than a month), but made it a point to turn up at the last moment -- largely to spite Leander, ensuring that he (Rohan) would get to pick the best partners for all events, even if not fully fit. As a result, we have struggled to get anything going even in the doubles events. Surely, Rohan-Divij should be a shoo-in for the doubles gold, but they have barely scraped through. If, at the end, we manage to get the gold (surely we will!) that would be scant compensation for all the other events we have messed up here. Of course, Ramkumar's singles loss was inexplicable and unfortunate.

[sanjay8886]

There is nothing wrong in being a die hard fan of Leander ignoring all other current data points, including rankings, his antics etc. It is up to us to criticize the only player who has a chance to give us a gold rather than backing him and celebrating it.

[jayakris]

There is nothing wrong in being a die hard fan of Leander ignoring all other current data points, including rankings, his antics etc. It is up to us to criticize the only player who has a chance to give us a gold rather than backing him and celebrating it.

No hablo espanol ... Kidding. Didn't understand what you were implying, sanjay.

[sanjay8886]

If I make it to obvious, then all will break loose here between Leander fan (and not so big fans of him at this stage)..

[Sin Hombre]

Hare Krishna, hare Leander !

[Prashant]

Meh. Leander can be a complete idiot & frequently is, but PKB has a very solid point. Once the selection committee puts Sumit Nagal on the team, it is very hard to take their credibility seriously. It would have been a total waste of Leander's time to partner Sumit, and a zero chance of progressing carrying someone who, on current form, just doesn't belong.

[kaustav]

Some very poor comments about Ankita here and unnecessary idolizing of Leander.

Comments were fair enough and ' unnecessary idolizing' Leander perhaps a joke from your side. We got two gold's in 1994 /2006 and those days perhaps would never come back. I have nothing against Prajnesh but when such a experience 38 years old doubles specialist made double fault at 4-6 STB and( when your tired lady partner suddely raised her game to help you )was a crime. He single handedly lost the STB and threw his racket into the ground. Did not convert his service points and not single return in STB. Thought of Leander and his heroics come to mind automatically. Rohan and Divij are not even 10% of his Calibre and we all know it, right? In 1994 with young and inexperienced Indian team he gave us two gold's medals and repeated in 2006. Missing him yesterday

[kaustav]

Meh. Leander can be a complete idiot & frequently is, but PKB has a very solid point. Once the selection committee puts Sumit Nagal on the team, it is very hard to take their credibility seriously. It would have been a total waste of Leander's time to partner Sumit, and a zero chance of progressing carrying someone who, on current form, just doesn't belong.

Agree but still Leander is good enough even today to provide us medals with Parthana at mixed. That's why I was missing him.

[nitin28]

we started good and leading with 1 break, 3-0
our team had faced 4 BP's till now saved all of them.. 4-1*
easy hold from both teams at love.. 5-2*.. *5-3 serving for set..
15-0, 30-0, 40-0.. and 6-3...
Kazakh players are finding it easy hold now, holding mostly at love or 15..
*0-1
easy holds from both teams till now 2-2*
rohan/divij had BP but cud not convert.. and its *2-3

[jayakris]

6-3 2-3, on serve now. The Kazakhis not being troubled enough now. Need to get a break soon. I don't trust our guys (at least one of them) to necessarily come through in tiebreakers.

There is the break... Up 6-3 4-3 and serving now. And we are up 6-3 5-3 and facing serve.. let's break them, boys!

6-3 5-4 and serving now.. 30-0 ... 40-0... and GOLD!!!!!!

[sanjay8886]

Congrats Bops and Divij! Country is proud of them. Prajnesh, get another one in singles.

[Omkara]

So proud of you dvij and bops. Congrats

[sameerph]

Excellent work, got the work done without any hiccups.

[PKBasu]

Good job winning a gold that was more or less a certainty given the rankings. Presumably a guaranteed slot in doubles for the Tokyo Olympics too!

[kaustav]

Good job but PKB nothing is sure shot in sports. And credit goes to Bopanna- Divij. Rohan did not panic and that's the good point