It will be a day of animated discussion as the All India Tennis Association selection committee meets here on Friday to decide on India's doubles combinations for the London Olympics.
An air of intrigue and anticipation hangs thick as Leander Paes, by virtue of his current ATP doubles ranking of seven, has directly qualified while Mahesh Bhupathi (14) and Rohan Bopanna (12) have apparently told the AITA that they would prefer to partner each other. Whether the selectors will heed to that request or plump for the old firm of Paes & Bhupathi for a final tilt at Olympic glory, remains to be seen.
Another option weighing on the selectors' mind would be to field two men's doubles teams, which would bring Somdev Devvarman — who is racing against time to recover from a shoulder injury — into the picture.
Devvarman last played in a tournament at Charlottesville (USA) in October 2011. If he is fit, Devvarman could well partner Paes but that again remains a matter of conjecture.
Interestingly, if Sania Mirza (WTA doubles ranking 12) gains a wild-card to the Olympics, then the committee will also have to ponder about who will partner her in mixed doubles.
On current form, Roland Garros champions Bhupathi and Sania should automatically be given the honour of doing duty again at London, but the answers to all these selection dilemmas will be known only on Friday evening.
