After much of brouhaha, India's No.1 doubles player Leander Paes has come up with a statement saying that he is ready to get paired with anyone. The 39-year-old confirmed his participation for the 2012 London Games, if there was any doubt on the matter at all.

He then went on to add that he would partner whoever the All India Tennis Association (AITA) had nominated him to play with - Vishnu Vardhan in the men's doubles and Sania Mirza in the mixed.

The statement said, "I'm here to play sport and not politics. I'm looking forward to representing my country with the teams that the All India Tennis Association has selected. Unfortunately, I see the games being played within games. As much as that is very disheartening, I am looking forward to playing my sixth Olympics for my country as I have played for 22-years for the people and the flag."

While Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna refused to partner Paes in the men's doubles, Sania has made her preference to partner Bhupathi clear. The mixed-doubles sign in for the Olympics is July 31. "Every Olympics has some nonsense coming with it. I know how much hard work goes into what I do. Either people choose to respect it, which I'm very lucky that most of India does, or people choose to disrespect. That's their problem, not mine. I deserve to play my sixth Olympics and be in the history books. No one can stop me," says Paes.

Looking on the brighter side of things, this really comes as good news!

Source: TNN