In a country like India, where Cricket is above all sports, Leander Paes rose above all odds to prove his mettle in Tennis, a sport which wasn’t so popular in the country back then.
Born to renowned athlete parents Vece Paes, a Goan, who was a midfielder in the bronze medal-winning Indian field hockey team at the 1972 Munich Olympics, and Jennifer Paes, who captained the Indian basketball team in the 1980 Asian basketball championship, Leander was a natural and talented sportsperson. Paes was one of the most successful doubles players in tennis history, with eight career Grand Slam doubles titles and 10 career Grand Slam mixed doubles championships.
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17At the age of 17, he won the Wimbledon junior title in 1990 and in the same year became the world No. 1 at the junior circuit.
1990Paes joined the Indian Davis Cup team in 1990 and turned professional in 1991.
22Paes ended India’s 44-year-old wait for an individual Olympic medal, winning the singles bronze at the Atlanta Games in 1996 aged just 22. He became the first Indian athlete since 1952 to win an individual Olympic medal.
18Paes is the most successful tennis player in Indian history having won 18 doubles titles during his storied career.
2001In 2001 Paes was awarded the Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian honours.
awards
Honoured with Arjuna Award (1990), Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award and Padma Shri award for his contribution to the tennis sport.
