"They Just Don't Care": Mahesh Bhupathi slams AITA in Olympic qualification row involving Rohan Bopanna and Sania Mirza

Former Indian tennis player Mahesh Bhupathi has sided with Rohan Bopanna over his claims of All India Tennis Association (AITA) misleading people with qualification hopes of him and Sumit Nagal for the Tokyo Olympics. Bopanna had revealed that AITA did not accept entry for him and Sumit Nagal saying that no changes were allowed after deadline of the nomination unless there is an injury concern.

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Bhupathi took to Twitter and supported Bopanna’s claim stating the governing body doesn’t care if India wins a medal or not.

"Bottom line is @rohanbopanna and @MirzaSania don't play. If it were me I would be moving mountains to find a way for him to go considering they were so close last time . Also I don't think it's incompetence . They just don't care.. and if you don't care you don't know," Bhupathi tweeted.

"50years and this is still going on. I really really hope for the betterment of Indian tennis there is a change. Our future tennis players deserve better administration," Bopanna added, quoting Bhupathi's tweet.

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"ITF has never accepted an entry for Sumit Nagal & myself. ITF was clear that no changes were allowed after the nomination deadline (22nd June) unless Injury/Illness. AITA has mislead the players, government, media and everyone else by stating we still have a chance (sic)," Bopanna had tweeted originally.

Responding to Bopanna’s claims, Sania Mirza said, "Whaaattt???If this is true then it's absolutely ridiculous and shameful..by this it also means that we have sacrificed a very good shot at a medal in the mixed doubles if you and I would have played as planned. We were both told that you and sumit's names have been given."

Defending themselves, AITA condemned the comments from Rohan Bopanna and Sania Mirza and said the tweets by the tennis players are misleading and inappropriate.

"Twitter comments by Rohan Bopanna and then Sania Mirza are inappropriate, misleading and it appears, without knowledge of the rules. They should have checked the rule book of ITF regarding qualifications, something that Divij Sharan seems to have done while writing to TOPS," AITA said in its statement.

"Rohan Bopanna could not have qualified as per ITF Rules. Therefore Sania Mirza's tweet is also baseless and coming from a player of her stature, is condemnable," the statement added.