Tennis icon Leander Paes recently shared his thoughts on his goals for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. While he has secured a variety of medals and titles for India across both singles and doubles formats, the bronze medal from the 1996 Olympics holds a uniquely special place in his heart. His professional peak included four Mixed Doubles and four Doubles Grand Slam titles, alongside reaching the world No. 1 spot in doubles by June 1999.
The Indian Tennis Olympian Leander Paes opens up in a chat, about the player’s calendared date with the 2020 Tokyo Olympic. The Indian racketeer had towed medals for the country, won cups in the singles and doubles in the tournament. However, the Tennis Olympian Leander Paes said the bronze medal from the 1996 Summer Games holds an important and special memory for the racketeer. Nonetheless, four Grand Slam Mixed Doubles, four Doubles and until June 1999 Paes’s in doubles was ranked as No:1.
Paes's most dominant era began before the year 2000, during which he defeated some of the world's highest-ranked players. Interestingly, he also stepped into the world of acting in 2013 with the movie Rajdhani Express. Regarding the end of his playing days, he noted that he has already begun focusing on other passions, including coaching rising stars, providing expert commentary, and sharing his lifelong experience to inspire others. Now turning 47 this June, he was asked if he planned to retire by 50, to which he responded with a laugh, noting that he hadn't even imagined himself still competing once he hit 40.
When asked about the most memorable location of his career, Paes explained that it isn't about a specific victory, but rather the emotional connection with the fans. He recalled a touching moment in Melbourne when a group of children confessed they had skipped school just to watch him play. For Paes, while records and histories evolve, the real value lies in being a source of inspiration for young people.
Closing the discussion with his outlook on the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Paes gave a confident 'why not.' With the games approaching, he expressed a desire to cap off his final year of competitive play in Tokyo, viewing the Olympics as the ultimate motivation that drives athletes forward. When asked who his dream doubles partner would be, he named Bob Bryan; although the two have a great friendship off the court, they have never actually competed as a pair.