The cow is worshipped in India and and a majority of Hindus do not eat beef. The slaughter of cattle is also banned in several states.

Rajnath Singh, a senior member of the BJP, demanded the ban in a letter to the organising committee of the  Games, the DNA newspaper reported on Thursday.  “Cow is considered sacred in India. This thought has been integral to our cultural ethos for ages,” the paper quoted from the former BJP president’s letter.

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“Everything went wrong. I tried my best but nothing went my way. I haven’t felt like that in a very long time,” world number eight Soderling told reporters after his error-strewn display against the world number 100.

“It’s not the ideal preparation for Australian Open. But hopefully I will feel better as I play more matches. I am next playing Kooyong exhibition tournament in Melbourne.”

Soderling, who began the new year by beating top-ranked Roger Federer in an exhibition event in Abu Dhabi, lost the opening set after he was broken in the seventh game following a spate of unforced errors.

The Swede, who last year reached the French Open final and the quarter-finals of the U.S. Open, had beaten the American in their only previous meeting at the 2007 Hamburg Masters.

The 25-year-old Swede blew a 4-1 lead in the second set after he allowed the American to save three break points and claw his way back.

Ginepri, U.S. Open semi-finalist in 2005, broke Soderling again in the seventh game as the Swede missed three overhead shots to hand his opponent the advantage.

“I had a little problem seeing the ball when I was moving back. Missed three overhead shots in one game,” said Soderling.

Ginepri said he was moving better and that had helped.

“I felt good today, I moved well. It’s always tough to play well in your first match of the season,” the American said.

“I have had more time to prepare. I was here on Thursday so had better understanding of the conditions. He (Soderling) came only two days back, so probably didn’t have enough time.”

(Editing by Sonia Oxley)

Soderling, 25, claimed his first victory over the Swiss ace at an exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi on January 1 after having lost all 12 of their previous meetings, including defeat at last year’s French Open final.

“If I continue to play the way I have been doing for the last six months or so I think I have a good chance there,” Soderling said on Monday.

The Swede enjoyed an impressive season in 2009 in which he also reached the quarter-finals of the U.S. Open and the last 16 of Wimbledon — losing to Federer on both occasions — but is yet to go past the second round at the Australian Open.

“I’ve played a few good matches there. I don’t really know why I didn’t produce any good results there. I’ve been injured two times, so I haven’t played every year,” said Soderling, speaking at the Chennai Open where he is the top seed.

“I don’t see any reason why I couldn’t play well there.”

“I think I got the best possible preparation for the season,” he said of the Abu Dhabi tournament where he lost to world number two Rafa Nadal in the final.

“Roger, to me, is the world’s best player. The best player of all time. So he’s not easy to beat.

“I think, you know, from every match we’ve played I learnt something. Those things better count. I must have learnt something, so you know. I played better, that’s what you got to do to beat him, you have to play at your best.”

Soderling plays American Robby Ginepri in the Chennai Open first round on Tuesday.

(Editing by Justin Palmer)