Indian doubles specialist Mahesh Bhupathi wants to dump estranged partner Leander Paes to boost his hopes of a medal at the Beijing Olympics, local media reported on Wednesday. A running feud between Bhupathi and Paes, in their 30s and winners of three grand slam doubles titles together, has left sports officials in the medal-starved nation frustrated. The pair do not play together on the tour and won the 2006 Asian Games title despite an ugly spat during the event. They narrowly lost the bronze medal playoff in the 2004 Athens Olympics. Bhupathi has written to the federation seeking permission to partner Davis Cup teammate Rohan Bopanna in the August Games because Paes did not seem keen to play together in the build-up. “I reached out to Leander in different ways but I haven't received a response,” the Hindustan Times quoted Bhupathi as saying in a letter to the All India Tennis Association (AITA). “I don't want to go to Beijing to make up the numbers. I would rather play with Rohan,” he said. “We have played on a few occasions and we get along well.” The Indian Olympic Association has asked Paes and Bhupathi to play together on the tour to boost their medal chances. The relationship between the duo worsened in February after Davis Cup team members threatened a boycott if Paes was not axed as captain before being persuaded to continue under him. India won one medal at each of the last three Olympics. Its men's hockey team, which won the country's last gold medal in Moscow in 1980, has failed to qualify for Beijing. Paes won a singles bronze at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Edberg to play seniors Stefan Edberg will return to competitive tennis for the first time in 12 years when he plays two matches on the seniors tour. The 42-year-old Swede, who has won two Wimbledon titles among his six Grand Slam titles, had previously declined to play the seniors event but changed his mind when Pete Sampras announced he would play two events this year.
