I have doubles understanding with Sania Mirza: Rushmi Chakravarthi
They have not played together after winning a bronze medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games here but Rushmi Chakravarthi feels she and Sania Mirza have enough individual experience behind them to again gel well as a team at the upcoming London Olympics.
- Press Trust of India
- Updated: June 27, 2012 12:24 pm IST
They have not played together after winning a bronze medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games here but Rushmi Chakravarthi feels she and Sania Mirza have enough individual experience behind them to again gel well as a team at the upcoming London Olympics.
Rushmi, 34, got a wild card entry with Sania for the women's doubles event in London Olympics, last night. "She (Sania) is a top doubles player in the world. I have also won many ITF doubles tournaments. We have played together at the CWG also. So the feeling of the playing doubles is there. We do have certain understanding," Rushmi, who is currently in Chennai, said.
"We have played before that (CWG) and it does not change much game wise. So it won't be a problem."
India's best chance to win a medal is in the mixed doubles since winning two rounds in the 16-team draw would put the country in the medal contention.
The wild card that AITA sought for Sania in the women's doubles was to make sure that she becomes eligible to compete in the mixed doubles.
So, realistically, few would give the Sania-Rushmi pairing a chance to win a medal in the women's doubles. Rushmi too is well aware of the demands of the women tennis today but said she is determined to do well.
"It's extremely demanding sport. I am taking care of fitness, I am concentrating on preparations. It's an ideal platform for an athlete but you have to be realistic. Results cannot be predicted, all I can do is to play my best tennis," she said.
The veteran player said it will be a great opportunity to play against world's best players in the next month's Games.
"It's tough. World's top players would be there but at the same it is a great opportunity to be there along with them. I am ready to give my best," she said.
"I have been training for some time, focussing particularly on doubles. I am also working hard on fitness," she added.
Rushmi has won more than 30 ITF doubles title, including one with Sania in 2004, and 11 singles titles in her long career so far.
Two of her doubles titles have come in 2012 season with Ankita Raina in the ITF Futures tournament in New Delhi.