“The controversy did not do anything good to anybody. It created bad blood among us and that is very unfortunate,” Sania Mirza said. Leander Paes was forced to pair with lower-ranked Vishnu Vardhan in men's doubles after both Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna refused to play with him. He was later paired with Sania Mirza in the mixed doubles.

But Sania has left everything behind, “Let us move forward and focus on winning a medal. Leander reached the final at the Wimbledon and that is the positive thing. I and Mahesh lost and that was unfortunate. We should have been playing in the final,” she commented.

Sania said that the selection row also bothered her relationships with Mahesh Bhupathi. “It was difficult to block the controversy from my mind and it was disturbing me. The situation did not arise because of what I said. Mahesh and I have been very good friends but the controversy did strain our friendship,”she stated.

Sania said that she had preferred to play with Bhupathi in mixed doubles but with Paes also, they can have a good shot at a medal. “I am a forehand player and Mahesh a backhand player, so I had preferences. But I have never said to play or not with any player. I am ready to play with anybody for my country.”

She further added, “Leander is a very good player and long time friend. I have played with him also for long. It's an honour to be playing with him in Olympics. I am in good form, won French Open (with Bhupathi). He (Paes) reached the final of Wimbledon and so he is also in great form. We can have a very good shot for a medal.”

Sania has won medals in the Commonwealth and Asian Games and the Afro-Asian Games also, and Olympic medal is the only one missing, “I have 12 medals, including those in CWG, Asian Games and Afro-Asian Games. Only an Olympic medal is left to be won. So this time I hope me and Leander get one,”said Sania.

Sania also disagreed with the perception that winning a medal in the mixed doubles will be comparatively easier as it would be a 16-team draw. “I think it is wrong that mixed doubles competition will be easy. People say if you win two matches then you are in the semifinal and a shot in the medal. But the draw is very tough, the best pairs in the world are in the draw and it won't be easy to win the matches,” she said.