New Delhi: Legendary tennis player Leander Paes has said that India needs at least another decade before it can produce a Grand Slam champion. Paes, who was speaking on the sidelines of the auctions of Tennis Premier League (TPL) in Mumbai on Wednesday, said that former players need to nurture young talent to transform the nation into a sporting powerhouse.
He further said that India should only not become such a sport superpower capable of just hosting the 2036 Olympic Games but also bagging more medals for the country. Paes also said that the focus needs to be on the grassroot level.
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Mahesh Bhupathi, Sania Mirza and Leander Paes in one frame pic.twitter.com/l6fAcamptB
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“I think it’s probably going to take another 10 years to produce a Grand Slam champion. I think that the focus needs to be on the grassroots base level and then the feeder system coming up, then you churn out the numbers,” Paes said.
“I 100% believe we have tremendous talent in India, but I believe it’s people like myself along with the governance, along with the whole sporting fraternity, to reach out to that talent in rural areas in places where maybe those children are not as fortunate as you and I, to have the parents who gave us that platform to stand on, he added.
Responsibility of everyone to find talent
The legendary tennis player, who has won 18 Grand Slam titles in doubles and mixed doubles, said that it is the responsibility of everyone to reach out and look for talent and further test it. Paes, who was recently inducted into the sport’s Hall of Fame, further said that pushing the talent into the academies where they will be nurtured is also very important.
India is aspiring to host the 2036 Olympics and finish in the top 10 in the medals tally and Paes said former players can play a pivotal role in making that dream of making the country a sports superpower.
“I really feel that if India is going to be a powerhouse to showcase ourselves at the 2036 Olympics, we’ve got 12 years to do it,” said Paes.
(With PTI inputs)
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