Indo-Pak Express: Partnership ends, not friendship

Known as the Indo-Pak Express, Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi’s four-year-old strong partnership may have come to an end, as the former opted to play with Mahesh Bhupathi to prepare for the London Olympics. But it’s not the end of their friendship, they said.

Qureshi, 31, is sad that he will not play with his mate ‘Bops’, as he calls Rohan. Speaking to DNA over the phone from his Karachi home, Qureshi said, “It is a strange feeling, not playing with Rohan anymore. But I respect his decision because he is doing it for his nation.”

“End of our on-court partnership doesn’t mean end of our friendship too,” he added.

Qureshi said it was their chemistry that worked for them in the years they played together. “We have been friends for 15 years. He is my best mate.”

They have been a force to reckon with since they started playing together and blossomed in 2009. “I always knew we belonged in the top 10, the elite doubles league. We have made an impact at the highest level,” he said.

“We had set ourselves two goals — of being in doubles top 10 and making it to the ATP World Tour Finals. We achieved both,” he added.

He is optimistic of the two of them getting back together in three to four years.

Qureshi, who is getting married next week, said, “Rohan has said he will come for the wedding; we will have one hell of a time.”

The duo was awarded the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian of the Year for 2010. They also won the Peace and Sport Image of the Year award the same year.