By IANS
New Delhi : Good news for all tennis enthusiasts as they may again see India's doubles specialists Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes team up for the Beijing Olympics next year.
"Olympics is far, there is still a long way to go. Ideally, we should be playing together if India has to have a chance of winning a medal at the Olympics," said Bhupathi here Wednesday, giving first signs of rapprochement with his estranged doubles partner.
"That's the logical choice. On today's ranking, we would be seeded high. It would give us the best chance to win a medal."
Asked if he has spoken to Paes on the subject, Bhupathi said: "It is still 15 months away from now."
The ugly spat between the duo came out in the open after they won the doubles gold medal in the Doha Asian Games in December 2006.
"Well, it could be the end of the road for both of us. There were some people who doubted my integrity. They also said that I didn't give my hundred percent. It is not done. I have proved my point now," Bhupathi had said after winning the gold medal in Doha last December.
The war of words between the most successful pair in India's tennis history became public after Paes questioned Bhupathi's fitness and commitment even before the competition started.
In the 2004 Athens Olympics, the duo fell short of winning the bronze medal as they lost a play-off match to Croatia's Ivan Ljubicic and Mario Ancic.
Paes and Bhupathi were ranked No.1 in 1999 when they won at the French Open and Wimbledon and also reached the final of the Australian Open and the US Open.
They parted ways in 2000 but teamed up in 2001 and won the French Open that year. But the patch-up lasted for a brief period before they split forever in 2002.
However, Bhupathi and Paes continued to don the Indian colour for team events like the Davis Cup and the Asian Games until last December.
On Sania Mirza's comeback from injury, Bhupathi said: "She is coming back from an injury and it will take time for her to find the rhythm. When the grass court season starts, she should be back in form. She is playing well."