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The All India Tennis Association (AITA) on Tuesday backed Leander Paes, saying it would be meaningless to team the veteran players with a junior player. "Asking Leander to pair with a junior player would be the most inappropriate decision and will be deemed to be an insult to Leander Paes, who enjoys great respect in International Tennis Circuit," said AITA, while responding to the Sports Ministry's queries on the controversy that flared up after both Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna refused to play with Paes citing their commitment to each other. "It should be understood that two players cannot make a pact with each other to keep the number one player out and publicly suggest in media that No.1 player should go to Olympics with No.5.," added AITA. Insisting that it would be meaningless to send Leander with a junior player who has not played Grand Slam, AITA said: "Leander being the best player must be paired with either Rohan Bopanna or Mahesh Bhupathi." Union Sports Minister Ajay Maken has now left it to the AITA to make a decision on final selection of team for London Olympics. Maken had taken the case with the association after Bhupathi and Bopanna wrote to him seeking his help in the matter.

All India Tennis Association backs Leander Paes