Somdev’s decision to pull out of Asiad wrong: AITA

India’s top singles player Somdev Devvarman’s decision to concentrate on ATP tour at the expense of upcoming Asian Games has come under sharp criticism from the All India Tennis Association, which termed the player’s move as ‘not correct’. ‘It is not a correct decision and a disappointing one. Somdev said the federation did not ask for his availability before naming the Asian Games squad. We said since he is country’s number one player, he was expected to play. We said at least play the team event but he was adamant,’ a peeved AITA general secretary Bharat Oza said on Wednesday.

‘We tried our best. But what to do, what alternative is there,’ Oza sounded helpless. Somdev, who won two gold medals at last edition of the Asian Games in Guangzhou, wants to improve his ranking as he has slipped to 143 following a prolonged poor run. Somdev will lead India’s challenge in the Davis Cup to be held from September 12-14 in Bangalore and Asian Games is set to begin in five days time after the World Group play-off tie.