Kalmadi hopes to convince Bhupathi to play in Asian Games

New Delhi, Oct 9 (UNI) Indian Olympic Association President Suresh Kalmadi is buoyed after his interaction with a sulking Mahesh Bhupathi who recently vowed not to play for India again and the IOA chief today exuded confidence that another round of talk would break the ice.

''We want to field the best team in the Doha Asian Games and hence I talked to Mahesh and Leander (Paes) too. I had a first round with Mahesh and though he is yet to budge, I think a second round of talk would be enough to convince him to play in the Asian Games,'' Mr Kalmadi told mediapersons on the sidelines of a programme to announce the arrival of the Asian Games torch.

Bhupathi dropped a bombshell when he announced that he no longer wants to play for the country.

The doubles specialist felt let down by the tennis federation when they paired the top women player Sania Mirza along with Paes for the mixed doubles at Doha, while Bhupathi was paired with the lower-ranked Shikha Uberoi.

Meanwhile, the flame of the Doha Asian Games reaches the capital tomorrow as its first stoppage en route 15 countries.

The flame will travel 50,000 kms over 55 days and after Delhi and Agra, it would head for Seoul and finally conclude in Doha on December 1, when the Games start.

After its arrival here tomorrow, the flame would start it's Delhi leg from the National Stadium with eminent sportspersons like Milkha Singh, PT Usha, Dhanraj Pillay, Dola Banerjee, GS Randhawa, Zafar Iqbal and Kirti Azad plaiyng the torch-bearer's role.

UNI AY PDS ND1848