AN OLYMPIC BRONZE MEDALLIST - Leander Paes

 

                   

‘A WINNER IS A DREAMER WHO NEVER GIVES UP’

Medallist: Leander Paes

Leander Paes is a former tennis player. He is regarded as the greatest tennis players in doubles. In 1996 Leander won a bronze medal for India in men’s singles at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games beating Fernando Meligeni. He also holds the record for the most doubles wins in the Davis Cup. In 1996, Paes received the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award, India’s highest sporting honor.

CHILDHOOD AND HOW IT STARTED

 Leander Paes was born on June 17, 1973. Paes began playing tennis at the age of five. In 1985 he joined a tennis academy in Madras. Paes was born in Calcutta, India. Paes enrolled with the Britannia Amritraj Tennis Academy where he was coached by Dave O’Meara. Leander earned international fame when he won the 1990 Wimbledon Junior title and rose to No. 1 in the junior world rankings at age 17.

STRUGGLES,  DIFFICULTIES AND HIS DEDICATION TOWARDS THE SPORT.

Leander once thought about quitting tennis when he was 19 years old because of the intense schedules, struggles and hardships he faced. He spoke about the passion to achieve excellence is what motivated him everyday. The winner of 18 Grand Slam titles said  “there will always be difficult circumstances in life but the key was to focus on the positives and not quitting” In a candid conversation he opened up about things getting harder every year and it became difficult to keep pushing the mind and body. He also spoke about the changes he had to make in his fitness schedule, his future plans, the rapport he shared with Mahesh Bhupathi.

CAREER AND OLYMPICS.

Leander Paes became the first & only Indian to win an Olympics medal in tennis. Leander Paes is one of the tennis players who gave recognition to the game in India and also has several laurels. He once opened up in an interview about his and Mahesh Bhupati’s split and feud wherein he told that “Honestly, our story is the biggest tragedy that has ever happened to Indian sport, and I say that I am glad that this tragedy ended on a high note with a gold in the Asian Games,”

LEANDER PAES’S ROUTINE AND SCHEDULE.

He used to run 7-8 kms everyday in order to make his legs stronger and faster which is crucial for any tennis player. Since he ran everyday his fitness, strokes and ability to hit the ball improved, says Chandrasekaran, his coach. Paes followed no specific diet however he doesn’t smoke and drink, avoids red meat and ate nutritious food. He practiced tennis for 5-6 hours on an average everyday.

POST OLYMPIC INTERVIEW.

“It’s a wonderful feeling because winning a medal at the Olympics is not an easy feat. It takes a lot of sacrifice and hard work, so when you get the medal in your hand, it’s definitely a proud moment. At that point, you look back at the years of hard work, the happiness is unparalleled.” This is how he summed up his experience and feelings after winning the bronze medal.

He also mentioned in one of the interview’s that he was in a dream world for one year after winning the Olympics and he slept everyday hugging his Olympic medal.