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The South
Asian Life & Times - SALT |
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Contents Cover Story
Dr
Karan Singh's
59th National Film
'Rang'
Colors of
Mike Pandey wins
SaMaPa Music
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Leander Paes
By Scoop Malinowski
Leander completed his career grand slam by winning
the Australian Open doubles title in January 2012. (w/Stepanek).The pair
beat Bryan-Bryan 7-6(1),
6-2 in
title match. For someone who has won seven men's doubles and six mixed
doubles grand slam titles, success has so far eluded Leander as a doubles
player at the Olympics. London's July 27-Aug. 12 Games will perhaps be his
best chance to win an Olympic medal in doubles.
This would be his sixth Olympics, a rare feat that not many athletes
have achieved. Who will he partner with remains to be seen. Paes and
Bhupathi have been the most successful Indian tennis doubles players with 23
Grand Slams between them. In 1999 they played the finals of all the 4 Grand
Slams, winning the Wimbledon and the French Open. But that was thirteen
years ago – much has happened between the duo since. Paes is an Olympian progeny – both his parents were
members of the Indian squad to the Munich Olympics in 1972 – his father Vece
Paes was a member of India’s bronze-winning hockey team and his mother
Jennifer was in the basketball team. Leander won the Olympic singles bronze
at the Atlanta Games in 1996 – it was a very special medal for India – its
second individual Olympic medal in 100 years. Leander described the Atlanta
bronze medal as his greatest sporting moment. "Standing on the podium in
Atlanta ('96) with Agassi and Sergi Bruguera -- with my (bronze) medal
around my neck. And my dad and the whole family in the crowd." Leander was awarded India's highest sporting honour
- Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award in 1997 and also the Arjuna Award and the
Padma Shri Award for his contribution to tennis in India, making him the
most decorated Indian sportsperson of all times.
He also plays in the World Team Tennis (WTT) for Washington Kastles,
together with team mates Serena and Venus Williams, Bobby Reynolds, and
Anastasia and Arina Rodionova. Scoop Malinowski spoke with Leander Paes earlier
this year. SALT brings you excerpts from their conversation, which obviously
centred on his tennis memories.
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