The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

PT brings you the celebrations and the controversies hounding the sporting world.
The Winning Jodi
Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi stormed into the French Open finals (mixed doubles) and proved yet again just how brilliant a duo they are. The game was theirs and they lifted the trophy. The match was extra special as June 7 was also Mahesh's birthday. The new father dedicated his win to his daughter back home.His game partner Sania wished him at the victory podium and the crowd echoed the wishes. Back home too, it was celebration time as the duo trended on social networking sites, garnered praise from one and all and did the country proud. A boost of confidence for the players and their fans ahead of the Olympics. "He has one of the best backhand returns in the game, and his net play is outstanding. This complements my powerful ground strokes, and return of serve, which are my strengths. These qualities put together make us a very good team," Sania had said about her pairing with Mahesh. While Sania said that her husband Shoaib Malik was thrilled about their win, a jubilant Lara Dutta, wife of Mahesh, also told PT, "We are ecstatic about Mahesh and Sania's win on his birthday. Very proud of him. The year is only going to get better."
Super Saina
Close on the heels of Mahesh and Sania's win, came ace Badminton player Saina Nehwal's Thailand Open victory. The steely shuttler played a good game against her Thai opponent and won the title. But this victory wasn't enough for her. "I want to win the Indonesia Open next week," she had said after her match. Call it determination or confidence, but she remained true to her words and did actually win the Indonesian Super Series Premier title on Sunday. Two titles in two weeks. Saina is just letting the world know what to expect at the Olympics. She's in great form and training harder than ever. Her coach P Gopichand has a good programme planned for the London Games and Saina says that the country's and her family's support is just what she needs. And of course, her ability to understand her opponent's strengths and weaknesses and change her strategies accordingly. Let's hope the good run continues and victory at the Olympics is hers.
Bhaag Pinki Bhaag!
After winning gold in 4x400 metres relay at the 2006 Asian Games, a silver at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in the same year and a gold at the 2005 Asian Indoor Games, the illustrious career of Pinki Pramanik seems to be on a downfall, as India's gold medalist in women's relay was arrested on a charge of rape and is also accused of being a male.
Pramanik was charged with rape after the athlete's live-in partner lodged a complaint accusing Pramanik of being a male. Pramanik is currently behind bars. She has also been suspended by her railway employers. Investigations are still on. Pinki worked as a ticket examiner. The railways have also started a probe if she was properly examined medically during the recruitment process.
Ahead of the Olympics, this is one controversy that India could have done without.
All Love Lost
The All India Tennis Association's decision to pair veterans Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes may cost India a medal in the upcoming London Olympics 2012. The fallout of India's most sought after players came to light in 1999 when they were hardly on talking terms, but still went on to qualify for the finals of all four Grand Slams, winning two of them. Apart from the on-court chemistry, the duo has not been seeing eye to eye, and this has been the talking point in Indian sports for years.
The selectors announced that the two veterans were their pick for the men's doubles at the London Olympics. Paes was quoted by TOI as saying, "To represent India for the sixth time at the Olympics is my greatest honour. I have always maintained that I will play with whoever the selection committee and AITA choose and this continues to be my stand."
But Indian sports associates and fans are still worried as Bhupathi doesn't seem to acknowledge the decision made by AITA. Calling Paes a 'backstabber' - a reference to the Paes decision to split at the end of last season, Mahesh Bhupathi is adamant that India should field two doubles teams in London - saying he and Rohan Bopanna have qualified as a partnership based on their rankings. AITA is unlikely to budge. On Monday, Rohan Bopanna officially informed AITA that he would not partner Leander Paes in the Olympics. It's clear that personal egos and group loyalties may already have compromised India's chances of winning a coveted Olympic medal.
Checkmate!
Vishwanathan Anand proved yet again that he is the King of Chess. On May 30, he won the World Chess Championship for the fifth time. He struck gold with his winning and did the nation proud. "You are a great inspiration to the youth of our country, particularly the sports enthusiasts. You have made the nation proud of you with this monumental achievement," Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had said in his message to the chess master. Anand also silenced his critics who thought that at his age (42), he lacked motivation. "It is no secret that I have had difficulty in a couple of tournaments and my confidence therefore suffers a bit. But I think under those circumstances if you can hang in there and win like this then it is all the more satisfying," Anand had earlier said.
Fixing hai toh fame hai?
IPL season 5 may have been high on cricket and glamour, but it had its set of controversies that kept MCA, BCCL and cricketers on their toes. For Pune Team player Mohnish Mishra this season wasn't in his favour. Having made a statement about being paid cash by the franchisee, he later apologised for making such a frivilous comment. He apologised saying, "'I wish to clarify that the said statements were made by me casually during the course of discussion for personal gain. I have not received any amount in cash from Sahara. I sincerely apologise for the embarrassment caused to Sahara due to such frivolous and incorrect statements."
His team also suspended him with immediate effect hours after the BCCI handed him the same punishment for his alleged involvement in spot-fixing pending a Board inquiry. Subrata Roy, owner Team Pune also shared his dismay and cleared the air by stating: "We once again reiterate that we have never paid any amount in cash or otherwise to Mohnish Mishra or any other player, over and above the maximum amount permissible by BCCI for any such player and neither do we believe in this practise of giving black money."