NEW DELHI, June 19: India’s ongoing tennis selection muddle took a curious turn on Tuesday when the game’s national body requested help from the sports ministry to finalize the men’s doubles team for the Olympics.

National sports bodies don’t usually like the interference of the government but the All India Tennis Association made the move after being asked by the sports ministry to explain the selection of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi as the sole men’s pair for London.

The selection became controversial as Bhupathi has been playing with compatriot Rohan Bopanna on the ATP Tour, and Bhupathi and Bopanna refused to pair up with Paes, the highest-ranked player in the world among the trio at No. 7 in doubles.

AITA said it selected Paes because he was the only one to receive an Olympic entry due to his world ranking and deserved to be part of a strong team.—AP