Rio 2016: I'm A Soft Target, People Want to Take Potshots at me, Says Leander Paes

An emotional Leander Paes did not hide his disappointment after losing the 2016 Rio Olympics first round men's doubles match with Rohan Bopanna, stating that he has "become a soft target" and that is the reason why people are "taking potshots" at him.

Paes was furious at reports of him not allegedly wanting to share a room with Bopanna and then also going on record about not being allotted room in the Games Village.

Asked about whether the sheen has been taken off without a doubles Olympic medal in cabinet, Paes said:"It should have been about celebrating a career. I am in a position of being the soft target, so a lot of guys wanna (sic) take shots at me. Fine, go for it. I am also just another human being, trying my best. But Leander is soft target. I will keep going as I am resilient. I know a lot of stories are being fed."

His answer was laced with sarcasm when he said that some people were trying to pull him down when they did not even know what it takes to win one Grand Slam.

"Not many people understand what it takes to win one Grand Slam. Not many people understand what it takes to win 10 Grand Slams. Not many people understand what it takes to win 18 Grand Slams. Not many also understand what getting to seven Olympics takes.

"May be how do I view it, I may be wrong, am asking for help. May be you all can tell me how to view it. May be you pull Lee down to this level so that you can understand what it takes."

Paes and Bopanna lost their opening men's doubles match 6-4, 7-6(6) to Polish duo Lukasz Kubot and Marcin Matkowski on Saturday.

Bopanna is still in with a shout for a medal as he will partner Sania Mirza in the mixed doubles.

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