New Delhi: Leander Paes might team up with Ramkumar Ramnathan instead of Sumit Nagal in this month’s Asian Games after captain Zeeshan Ali said he will consider the ATP World Tour finalist’s request to pair up with the senior pro.
In the originally planned combinations, Rohan Bopanna was paired with Divij Sharan and Paes and the young Sumit Nagal were the other combo for the men’s doubles event.
“I will have a chat with the players when we reach there (Jakarta) and then take a decision. There are a lot of different aspects to it. I don’t want to take any decision now but there is a possibility, considering, that Ram and Leander have played together in the past and know each other’s game well, to get them together,” Zeeshan told this agency Monday.
Ramkumar and Paes have paired only once on the Tour. At the Pune Challenger in 2016, they reached the quarterfinals but Paes has been mentoring Ramkumar since then. After making his maiden ATP World Tour singles final, Ramkumar had credited Paes, the winner of 18 doubles Grand Slam titles.
Ramkumar will also compete in the men’s singles event in Palembang (venue for tennis) with Prajnesh Gunneswaran and Nagal was picked up as a backup.
Of all the players named in the Indian squad, only Paes and Divij Sharan have won medals at the quadrennial event.
While Paes is winner of eight medals, including five gold, Divij won a bronze in the previous edition with Yuki Bhambri, who has opted out of the upcoming edition.
Both Lee and Ram know each other’s game well having played together in the past. More over Lee mentors Ram regularly, so there is every possibility of them playing together
Zeeshan Ali – captain
