Leander Paes predicts it could take India 10 extra years to provide a Grand Slam singles champion, emphasising the necessity for grassroots improvement and expertise scouting.
Tennis legend Leander Paes believes it could take one other decade for India to provide a Grand Slam champion. Talking on the Tennis Premier League (TPL) public sale, Paes highlighted the necessity for a grassroots transformation in Indian tennis. He harassed the significance of nurturing younger expertise by way of a structured system that may determine and develop future champions.
“I feel it’s going to take 10 years to provide a Grand Slam champion. The main focus must be on the grassroots, with a feeder system that churns out expertise,” Paes remarked.
India’s anticipate a singles champion continues
Whereas India has seen Grand Slam successes in doubles by way of stars like Mahesh Bhupathi, Sania Mirza, and Paes himself, the nation remains to be ready for a singles champion. The final Indian doubles Grand Slam winner was Rohan Bopanna, who secured the lads’s doubles title with Matthew Ebden on the Australian Open in 2024.
Untapped potential in rural India
Paes, a current inductee into the Tennis Corridor of Fame, sees nice potential in India’s rural areas. He urged the sporting group and former athletes like himself to actively scout for expertise in underserved areas. “Now we have super expertise in India, but it surely’s our accountability to succeed in out to rural areas, discover that expertise, check it, and nurture it in academies,” Paes stated.
India’s sporting ambitions by 2036 Olympics
Paes additionally shared his imaginative and prescient for India to grow to be a sporting powerhouse, particularly with the nation aiming to host the 2036 Olympics. He emphasised the significance of governance and the position former athletes might play on this ambition.
“Now we have 12 years to make India a sporting powerhouse by the 2036 Olympics. It’s not nearly internet hosting the Video games, but in addition successful medals and that’s the actual victory,” Paes highlighted.
Tennis governance and AITA elections controversy
Commenting on the All India Tennis Affiliation (AITA) elections, Paes advocated for peaceable dialogue amidst the controversy surrounding alleged violations of the Sports activities Code. Whereas he shunned discussing the authorized points, he referred to as for mutual respect. “Any variations may be resolved by way of dialogue. Even when disagreements stay, there needs to be mutual respect,” Paes famous.
Reward for Indian tennis duo
Paes additionally praised the current success of Indian tennis duo Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan and Vijay Sundar Prashanth, who clinched the doubles title on the ATP 250 Hangzhou Open 2024.
“Jeevan’s ardour and enthusiasm on the courtroom are incredible. Seeing him and Sundar win in Hangzhou was nice. An enormous shoutout to all of the younger tennis gamers making sacrifices to compete internationally,” he added, reflecting on his personal journey.
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