Leander Paes Shares Secrets to Success and Talks About Indian Tennis Future
By Parv Anand
New Delhi, India, July 12: Former Indian tennis star Leander Paes has shared his secrets to achieving success, emphasizing self-belief, mental health, and hard work. Paes, who has had a long and successful career, believes that these elements are crucial for any athlete or individual to succeed.
Paes’ Mantra for Success
In an exclusive conversation, Paes said, “In any sport or any walk of life, belief in yourself, mental peace and happiness, and also tremendous hard work. These are guarantees for a successful career.”
Paes also highlighted the importance of happiness, especially for young people facing various stresses like exams, traffic, and social media. He said, “Bringing happiness to people is very important.”
Indian Tennis Future
After retiring in 2020, Paes has been watching the progress of Indian tennis players like Sumit Nagal and Rohan Bopanna. He is excited to see their performance in the upcoming Paris Olympics, starting on July 26.
Paes said, “It’s wonderful to see Sumit holding the flag high. Rohan winning his first men’s doubles Grand Slam with Matthew Ebden was also fantastic. I’m looking forward to seeing how they perform in the Olympics.”
Playing for the Nation
Paes emphasized the importance of playing for the country, saying, “The Olympics, Asian Games, and Davis Cup have always been the most important events in my career. I look forward to seeing how our players perform in these events.”
Promoting Tennis in India
Paes is associated with the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) and is working to popularize tennis in India. He is proud of tennis for its equal opportunities and prize money for men and women.
“Tennis has improved a lot in India, with more professional players now. During Wimbledon, the focus is not just on the championships but also on increasing the number of people playing and following tennis,” Paes said.
He added, “In India, there has been a 96% increase in viewership from 2003 to 2022. My responsibility has been to popularize the game and provide opportunities for young boys and girls.”
