PAES Leander < Back  
Sport Tennis
CGA India   
Gender Men
Born 17 Jun 1973 in Calcutta, IND
Height1.78 m
Weight 78 kg
Human Interest
General Interest
Injuries In 2003 he was admitted to hospital with a suspected brain tumour that was later found to be a parasitic infection. (indianlink.com.au, 09 Feb 2018)

He suffered a torn tendon in his right wrist in 2000, and required a three-month break from competition. (ATP, 10 Jul 2004)
Memorable sporting achievement Winning bronze in men's singles at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. (indianexpress.com, 25 Jun 2016)
Famous relatives His father Vece Paes played field hockey for India, winning a bronze medal at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich. His mother Jennifer Paes represented India in basketball. (atpworldtour.com, 27 Jun 2016)
Sport Specific Information
Why this sport? He has a great passion for the sport and considered playing tennis to be a great career option.
General Interest
Hero / Idol Brazilian footballer Pele, Australian tennis player Rod Laver, US boxer Muhammad Ali. (tennis-prose.com, 26 Nov 2010)
Awards and honours In 2014 he was presented with the Padma Bhushan Award in recognition of his service to Indian sport. (atpworldtour.com, 27 Jun 2016)

In 2001 he received the Padma Shri Award in India. (atpworldtour.com, 27 Jun 2016)

He was flag bearer for India at the opening ceremony of the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. (atpworldtour.com, 27 Jun 2016)
Sport Specific Information
Handedness Right
When and where did you begin this sport? He began playing tennis at age 10 in India.
Further Personal Information
Occupation Athlete
Languages English, Hindi
General Interest
Other information HISTORIC ACHIEVEMENTS
At the 2012 Olympic Games in London he became the first Indian athlete to compete in six Olympic Games. He extended this to seven at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro. His bronze medal in the men's singles event at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta was India's first individual Olympic medal since 1952 and first Olympic tennis medal. In 1999 he and his countryman Mahesh Bhupathi became the first doubles pairing to reach the final of all four Grand Slams in the same year since 1952. In June 2016 he became the first male player to win 10 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles when he triumphed in the 2016 French Open with Swiss partner Martina Hingis, thus completing a career slam in the mixed doubles. In April 2018 he became the most successful doubles player in the Davis Cup after earning his 43rd win in the competition. (scroll.in, 07 Apr 2018; indianexpress.com, 25 Jun 2016, 04 Jun 2016; lmt-lss.com, 03 Sep 2015; ATP, 12 Sep 2015, 25 Aug 2006)

OTHER ACTIVITIES
He played the lead role in the Indian movie 'Rajdhani Express', a thriller that was released in 2013. (newsmobile.in, 09 Apr 2018)
Further Personal Information
Family Daughter Aiyana
General Interest
Ambitions To win gold at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. (livemint.com, 12 Apr 2018)
Sport Specific Information
Name of coach Zeeshan Ali [national]
Training Regime In addition to practising on the court, he does yoga, running, stretching and strength and conditioning work in the gym.