Despite being ranked 344, 390, and 437 respectively on the WTA tour (India’s best singles hopes), they were dropped to meet a government rule: only top-8 ranked Asian players get to go. AITA had pushed hard, citing their recent form and medal potential; especially in doubles. But the final list shrank from 12 to 7 players, leaving India with just two women: Ankita Raina and Rutuja Bhosale; both primarily doubles specialists. Sahaja, shocked and speaking from the Netherlands, asked: “If we only go when we’re seeded, why play at all?” The bigger story? This isn’t just about tennis. It’s about how rigid selection policies can sideline emerging talent; even when they’re delivering results. With no clear singles representative, India’s medal hopes in women’s tennis have taken a serious hit. AITA’s request for event-specific selection (singles vs doubles) was ignored. Sometimes, the system’s rules matter more than the player’s grit.