It's a tough field

Its obviously disappointing to anyone who is passionate about Indian tennis to see our guys and gals come back empty handed. I can feel the pain and disappointment that the players themselves will be feeling.When there's more than a billion rooting for you, its hard when you dont deliver. But none of our players need to take it so hard. For, there is, one MAIN factor that's not that apparent. The top singles players are in the fray to win a doubles medal!! None of these players bother to compete on the doubles tour on a regular basis.While we have the best doubles specialists, our players are no match for the fit, young and powerful singles players who are raring to win a medal in doubles or mixed doubles. In Beijing too, it was Federer-Wawrinka who beat Bhupathi-Paes and then proceeded to win the gold. This uprising of singles players only happens at every Olympics and every round is a steep hurdle. The match-ups are not even balanced. Expectations of medals from tennis was a tough ask all along. What we can take from this- For the first time, India had representation in every event except women's singles. Vishnu Vardhan and Somdev Devvarman got to compete in men's singles. That is commendable. The only factor in this whole scenario is that there could have been a bit less drama before the Olympics. But if we ever want to do better in the next Olympics, then we have to start preparing for RIO NOW.