Tough task for second string of Indian men's tennis team

With the cream of Indian men's tennis choosing to skip the Asian Games citing professional commitments, medal prospects need to be discussed with a pinch of salt. The second-string team is likely to find it tough against quality opposition from some of the best in the continent when the team events begin on Saturday.

This is not the first time tennis players have played truant. Even at Guangzhou 2010, Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna had opted out.

Whether it was indifference to the Asian Games or the attraction of money and ranking points on the professional circuit, the absence of the stalwarts turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

Somdev Devvarman and Sania Mirza spearheaded a memorable campaign in the Chinese city and returned with an unexpected haul of five medals, including two gold. Sania is a much different player now than what she was four years ago. She has given up singles and made a mark as a doubles specialist. But she has not hit a single ball with her prospective women's doubles and mixed doubles partners she will pair up with at the Asian Games.

If anyone needs to be blamed for the current state and how the senior pros have behaved, it is the All India Tennis Association.

Each time it comes to the Olympics, we have heard a lot from the federation about pride in playing for the country. The Asian Games tennis competition may not be as prestigious as the Olympics, but it is a major event for the continent.

If one looks back at the 1998 Asiad in Bangkok, the 2002 edition in Busan and Doha 2006, the presence of Leander and Mahesh did lend charm to the competition. But what remains etched in memory is the duo's spat in front of the cameras after winning the gold in Doha!

For the likes of Yuki Bhambri and Saketh Myneni, this is a great opportunity to emulate what Vishnu Vardhan did in Guangzhou. Relatively unknown before the Games, Vardhan reached the podium when he partnered Sania for a silver in the mixed doubles.

This time too, the lady from Hyderabad will be key.