The Indian Tennis Association confirmed on Thursday, 13 June 2024, that Rohan Bopanna and N Sriram Balaji will represent India in the men’s doubles discipline at the Paris Olympics 2024. This announcement marks a significant moment in Indian tennis, as it brings together two of the country’s most talented players on the global stage.
Rohan Bopanna pair up with Sriram Balaji
Rohan Bopanna currently ranked fourth in the world, was allowed to choose his partner for the Paris Olympics 2024. He opted for Sriram Balaji, who is currently ranked 67th in the world. This pairing brings together Bopanna’s vast experience and Balaji’s youthful energy, creating a dynamic duo that is expected to make a significant impact at the games.
Bopanna has been a consistent performer in the top 10 of the doubles tennis rankings since November last year. His impressive performance includes winning the Australian Open men’s doubles title with his Australian partner Matthew Ebden and making the French Open semi-finals. This will be Bopanna’s third appearance at the Olympics, having previously competed in London 2012 and Rio 2016.
On the other hand, Sriram Balaji will be making his Olympic debut. Despite being relatively new to the international circuit, Balaji has shown promise and potential in his performances.
The duo will be accompanied by coach Balachandran Manikkath and physio Rebecca V. Orshaegen. Their combined expertise and experience will provide the necessary support and guidance to Bopanna and Balaji as they prepare for the intense competition at the Olympics.
We are proud to announce that Rohan Bopanna and N. Sriram Balaji have qualified for the Paris Olympics 2024! 🎾🇮🇳
With Coach Mr. Balachandran Manikkath and Physio Ms. Rebecca V. Orshaegen by their side, we're ready to make a mark on the world stage. #AITATennis #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/V2YQCD9t07— All India Tennis Association (@AITA__Tennis) June 13, 2024
The men’s doubles event at the Paris Olympics will feature 32 teams. The first to obtain quotas for their countries were the top 10 players in the doubles rankings, as long as they had an available partner inside the top 300 of the doubles rankings at the end of the qualification window on Monday. Bopanna, being comfortably within the top 10, secured the quota for India.
The pairing of Bopanna and Balaji brings together a blend of experience and youth, a combination that could prove to be a game-changer at the Paris Olympics 2024. As they gear up for the games, the entire nation will be eagerly watching and cheering them on, hoping for a historic performance that could potentially bring home a medal.
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