"India Have Chance To Win Medal In Asian Games Through Men's Doubles": Leander Paes

Tennis legend Leander Paes feels India will find it tough in singles but the country can hope to win a medal in the Asian Games with the men's doubles team though it remains to be seen who is picked to play alongside the seasoned Rohan Bopanna. "In the Asian Games, in men's doubles we have a good opportunity of doing well. We have multiple options of teams in the doubles. We have got quite a few players who can play," Paes said during an event on the eve of the Wimbledon men's final here on Sunday.

"In singles, when you look at countries historically, like Japan, Korea, Uzbekistan, China, Chinese Taipei, Thailand ... it will be a little tougher but in doubles we have a great chance of winning a medal, if not a gold medal.

"It just depends on the combination of teams, who they pick to play with Rohan and who the second team will be." Paes feels the Indian players will find it tough to keep up with the competition in the international level in next few years and said it is unfortunate that the country does not host important events.

"I think it is going to be a tough time for Indian tennis for the next couple of years. I have tremendous respect for Indian players who are travelling internationally, spending Euros and dollars, spending foreign currency ... to have a coach, a trainer, equipment, to get all your flights, hotel, transport,” he said.

"You do not have an association which pays for all of that. Each of us has to do it individually, whereas you have the BCCI which has done such a wonderful job for cricket.

"You have Hockey India, AIFF, Reliance doing it for ISL. But tennis is an individual sport, very much like badminton, or track and field, in there, 99.99 per cent of the tennis tournaments are outside India.