<p>The Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL), in association with the Indian Golf Union (IGU), the Professional Golfers' Association of India (PGAI), and The Golf Foundation (TGF), on Thursday (Jan 22) unveiled the ‘Golf Growth Initiative,’ a landmark program designed to build the next generation of Indian golfers. Launched at the Delhi Golf Club in the presence of tennis legend Leander Paes, the initiative marks a major shift in the sport’s development, taking golf directly into schools and playgrounds to ensure talent from every corner of India is nurtured and equipped to win at the highest level.</p><p><br>This ambitious program brings together the entire golfing ecosystem, including mentoring by senior golf legends Jeev Milkha Singh, Jyoti Randhawa, Shiv Kapur, Gaganjeet Bhullar, SSP Chawrasia and Gaurav Ghei to make the sport bigger and better. In a major announcement, IGPL confirmed a strategic partnership with The Golf Foundation (TGF) to drive grassroots scouting. To support this, IGPL announced the immediate establishment of world-class training facilities in Orissa, Gurgaon, and Andhra Pradesh starting this year. These centres will serve as regional hubs for identifying raw talent and providing them with professional-grade infrastructure.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Going beyond traditional academies, the initiative will conduct interactive golf sessions within schools, introducing thousands of students to the sport for the first time. This collaborative effort involves the IGU, PGAI, schools, and corporate partners, creating a unified framework to identify talent early.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Uttam Singh Mundy, CEO of IGPL, said, "Indian golf is getting bigger and better, and the time has come to build a generation that can dominate the world stage. To do this, we are taking the game directly to schools and playgrounds, ensuring that no talent is left behind. This requires a huge collective effort, which is why we are joining hands with Amit Luthra’s foundation and the IGU. We are creating avenues where youngsters don’t just train, they learn and play alongside experienced legends to become winners."</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>ALSO READ | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-chris-gayle-to-brendon-mccullum-5-batters-to-score-fastest-t20-world-cup-hundreds-rilee-rossouw-ahmed-shehzad-1768553361691"><strong>From Chris Gayle to Brendon McCullum, 5 batters to score fastest T20 World Cup hundreds</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>A key pillar of the initiative is a 360-degree mentorship model, where youngsters will learn and play alongside Indian golf icons. Legends such as Shiv Kapur and Gaganjeet Bhullar will actively mentor emerging players, ensuring they are match-ready for global competition.</p><p><br>Indian golf legend and IGPL Icon Player Jeev Milkha Singh said, "I have always believed that for Indian golf to grow, we need to give back to the next generation. This initiative is close to my heart because it provides young players with the kind of structured guidance and mentorship that can shave years off their learning curve. By bringing experienced pros and raw talent together on the same platform, we are instilling the belief that they can beat the best in the world."</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>ALSO READ | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/meet-indians-to-score-most-runs-in-each-of-last-5-t20-world-cups-ft-virat-kohli-kl-rahul-rohit-sharma-2026-t20-world-cup-1768479871185"><strong>Meet Indians to score most runs in each of last 5 T20 World Cups ft Virat Kohli</strong></a></p><p><br>Tennis Icon Leander Paes, partnering with IGPL to bring an Olympic-level vision to the training infrastructure, said, "I have always believed that Indian athletes have the potential to rule the world stage. Partnering with IGPL is about bringing that Olympic mindset to golf. We are building a system where talent is identified early and nurtured with the best infrastructure. This initiative is about giving our youth the belief and the tools to win at the highest level."<br>&nbsp;</p>

Launched at the Delhi Golf Club in the presence of tennis legend Leander Paes, the initiative marks a major shift in the sport’s development, taking golf directly into schools and playgrounds to ensure talent from every corner of India is nurtured and equipped to win at the highest level.

The Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL), in association with the Indian Golf Union (IGU), the Professional Golfers' Association of India (PGAI), and The Golf Foundation (TGF), on Thursday (Jan 22) unveiled the ‘Golf Growth Initiative,’ a landmark program designed to build the next generation of Indian golfers. Launched at the Delhi Golf Club in the presence of tennis legend Leander Paes, the initiative marks a major shift in the sport’s development, taking golf directly into schools and playgrounds to ensure talent from every corner of India is nurtured and equipped to win at the highest level. This ambitious program brings together the entire golfing ecosystem, including mentoring by senior golf legends Jeev Milkha Singh, Jyoti Randhawa, Shiv Kapur, Gaganjeet Bhullar, SSP Chawrasia and Gaurav Ghei to make the sport bigger and better. In a major announcement, IGPL confirmed a strategic partnership with The Golf Foundation (TGF) to drive grassroots scouting. To support this, IGPL announced the immediate establishment of world-class training facilities in Orissa, Gurgaon, and Andhra Pradesh starting this year. These centres will serve as regional hubs for identifying raw talent and providing them with professional-grade infrastructure. Going beyond traditional academies, the initiative will conduct interactive golf sessions within schools, introducing thousands of students to the sport for the first time. This collaborative effort involves the IGU, PGAI, schools, and corporate partners, creating a unified framework to identify talent early. Uttam Singh Mundy, CEO of IGPL, said, "Indian golf is getting bigger and better, and the time has come to build a generation that can dominate the world stage. To do this, we are taking the game directly to schools and playgrounds, ensuring that no talent is left behind. This requires a huge collective effort, which is why we are joining hands with Amit Luthra’s foundation and the IGU. We are creating avenues where youngsters don’t just train, they learn and play alongside experienced legends to become winners." ALSO READ | From Chris Gayle to Brendon McCullum, 5 batters to score fastest T20 World Cup hundreds A key pillar of the initiative is a 360-degree mentorship model, where youngsters will learn and play alongside Indian golf icons. Legends such as Shiv Kapur and Gaganjeet Bhullar will actively mentor emerging players, ensuring they are match-ready for global competition. Indian golf legend and IGPL Icon Player Jeev Milkha Singh said, "I have always believed that for Indian golf to grow, we need to give back to the next generation. This initiative is close to my heart because it provides young players with the kind of structured guidance and mentorship that can shave years off their learning curve. By bringing experienced pros and raw talent together on the same platform, we are instilling the belief that they can beat the best in the world." ALSO READ | Meet Indians to score most runs in each of last 5 T20 World Cups ft Virat Kohli Tennis Icon Leander Paes, partnering with IGPL to bring an Olympic-level vision to the training infrastructure, said, "I have always believed that Indian athletes have the potential to rule the world stage. Partnering with IGPL is about bringing that Olympic mindset to golf. We are building a system where talent is identified early and nurtured with the best infrastructure. This initiative is about giving our youth the belief and the tools to win at the highest level."

<p>Launched at the Delhi Golf Club in the presence of tennis legend Leander Paes, the initiative marks a major shift in the sport’s development, taking golf directly into schools and playgrounds to ensure talent from every corner of India is nurtured and equipped to win at the highest level.</p>

Leander Paes launches grassroots mentorship program to train India's next golf champions

<p>Dr Vece Paes, a hockey bronze medalist for India during the 1972 Summer Games and father of former Olympic medalist and Tennis great Leander Paes, has passed away in Kolkata on Thursday morning (Aug 14). Vece was hospitalised on Tuesday but breathed his last this morning, aged 80, losing his battle to the advanced stage of Parkinson’s disease. Having plied his trade in several sports and their associations, including playing cricket, football, and rugby, and serving as the president of the Indian Rugby Football Union (1996-2002), Vece was a midfielder during his playing days with Indian Hockey.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Vece, a pioneer in Indian sports medicine, worked as a medical consultant with several sporting bodies, including the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Indian Davis Cup Team.&nbsp;<br>The hockey veteran, however, was also part of the bronze medal-winning Indian Team during the 1971 Hockey World Cup in Barcelona.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tennis-defending-champions-jannik-sinner-aryna-sabalenka-in-cincinnati-open-quarters-1755139806229"><strong>Tennis: Defending champions Sinner, Sabalenka in Cincinnati Open quarters</strong></a><br>&nbsp;</p><p>Paes, who was married to Jennifer, a former Indian basketball player and the national team captain, was admitted to the Woodlands hospital in Kolkata on Tuesday morning. Per the latest reports, Paes’ last rites will be performed either on Monday or Tuesday, as the family awaits the arrival of his daughters, both of whom are settled abroad.<br>&nbsp;</p><p>Meanwhile, his son, Leander Paes, tasted enormous success at the top level representing India in Tennis. Leander is the most successful Indian in this sport, having won 18 Grand Slam titles, including eight men’s doubles and 10 mixed doubles.&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;</p><p>Although like this father but in a different discipline, Leander also won a bronze medal at the Summer Games (1996 Atlanta Olympics), becoming the first Indian tennis player to achieve this feat.&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;</p><p>Paes retired from professional Tennis in 2020 following his last Davis Cup tie in Croatia. Leander, however, also planned to play a few selected tournaments that year as part of his farewell tour dubbed ‘The Last Roar’.</p>

Vece was hospitalised on Tuesday but breathed his last this morning, aged 80, losing his battle to the advanced stage of Parkinson’s disease.

Dr Vece Paes, a hockey bronze medalist for India during the 1972 Summer Games and father of former Olympic medalist and Tennis great Leander Paes, has passed away in Kolkata on Thursday morning (Aug 14). Vece was hospitalised on Tuesday but breathed his last this morning, aged 80, losing his battle to the advanced stage of Parkinson’s disease. Having plied his trade in several sports and their associations, including playing cricket, football, and rugby, and serving as the president of the Indian Rugby Football Union (1996-2002), Vece was a midfielder during his playing days with Indian Hockey. Vece, a pioneer in Indian sports medicine, worked as a medical consultant with several sporting bodies, including the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Indian Davis Cup Team. The hockey veteran, however, was also part of the bronze medal-winning Indian Team during the 1971 Hockey World Cup in Barcelona. Also read | Tennis: Defending champions Sinner, Sabalenka in Cincinnati Open quarters Paes, who was married to Jennifer, a former Indian basketball player and the national team captain, was admitted to the Woodlands hospital in Kolkata on Tuesday morning. Per the latest reports, Paes’ last rites will be performed either on Monday or Tuesday, as the family awaits the arrival of his daughters, both of whom are settled abroad. Meanwhile, his son, Leander Paes, tasted enormous success at the top level representing India in Tennis. Leander is the most successful Indian in this sport, having won 18 Grand Slam titles, including eight men’s doubles and 10 mixed doubles. Although like this father but in a different discipline, Leander also won a bronze medal at the Summer Games (1996 Atlanta Olympics), becoming the first Indian tennis player to achieve this feat. Paes retired from professional Tennis in 2020 following his last Davis Cup tie in Croatia. Leander, however, also planned to play a few selected tournaments that year as part of his farewell tour dubbed ‘The Last Roar’.

<p>Vece was hospitalised on Tuesday but breathed his last this morning, aged 80, losing his battle to the advanced stage of Parkinson’s disease.</p>

Vece Paes, Indian hockey veteran and Tennis great Leander Paes’ father, dies at 80

<p>Former doubles world number one Leander Paes and tennis broadcaster, actor and player Vijay Amritraj became the first Asian men inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame on Saturday.</p>

<p>The first inductees from India were joined by British tennis journalist and author Richard Evans in enshrinement ceremonies at the Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island.</p>

<p>Paes recounted his youth playing football and hockey before turning to tennis and eventually following his hockey-captain father as an Olympic medalist.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tennis/news-rafael-nadal-makes-first-final-in-two-years-at-bastad-before-paris-olympics-participation-742678">Rafael Nadal makes first final in two years at Bastad before Paris Olympics participation</a></strong></p>

<p>"It's my greatest honor to be on this stage with not only these legends of the game, people who have inspired me every single day of my life -- not because you've only won Grand Slams, not because you've shaped our sport but every single one of these people have shaped the world we live in," Paes said.</p>

<p>"I would like to thank you so much for giving this Indian boy hope."</p>

<p>Amritraj, 70, played from 1970 until retiring in 1993, winning 15 ATP singles titles and 399 matches and being ranked as high as 18th in the world and helped India to the Davis Cup finals in 1974 and 1987.</p>

<p>"I am humbled and honored to join this incredible and exclusive group that have brought glory to our sport," Amritraj said.</p>

<p>After his playing days, Amritraj has helped humanitarian causes, backed ATP and WTA events in India and has acted in the James Bond and Star Trek movie series.</p>

<p>"A feeling came over me that I had never experienced," Amritraj said of learning about his election to the Hall. "This was an honor not just for me, for my family, for my parents, but for all of my fellow Indians and my country who live around the world."</p>

<p>Like Amritraj, Evans was inducted in the contributor category for his life impact on the sport.</p>

<p>Paes, 51, was an 18-time Grand Slam champion in doubles and mixed doubles who was selected in the player category after honing his trade in an Amritraj youth academy.</p>

<h2>'Inspire the world'</h2>

<p>Paes and Amritraj made India the 28th nation represented in the Hall of Fame.</p>

<p>"Playing for 1.4 billion people could either be pressure or it could be wind within your wings," Paes said.</p>

<p>"I'd like to thank every single one of my countrymen who supported me, who stood by through all the ups and downs, and we've been through a few, but you all were the inspiration, the support, you were even the strength to guide me through when even I didn't believe."</p>

<p>Paes won career Grand Slams in both men's and mixed doubles, completing one in men's by winning the 2012 Australian Open and another in mixed by capturing the 2016 French Open.</p>

<p>He won the 1996 Atlanta Olympics bronze medal by defeating Brazil's Fernando Meligeni 3-6, 6-2, 6-4.</p>

<p>His only ATP singles title came in 1998 on Newport grass in the same venue where he was inducted.</p>

<p>"As my father always said to me, if you believe in yourself, you work hard, you'll be passionate not only to win prize money and trophies, but you do that to inspire the world," Paes said.</p>

<p>"It has been my greatest honor to play for my countrymen in seven Olympics, to stand where the national anthem is playing in all those Davis Cups, and to prove that we Asians can win Grand Slams and also be number one in our field, be it tennis or anything."</p>


Former doubles world number one Leander Paes and tennis broadcaster, actor and player Vijay Amritraj became the first Asian men inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame on Saturday.

Former doubles world number one Leander Paes and tennis broadcaster, actor and player Vijay Amritraj became the first Asian men inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame on Saturday. The first inductees from India were joined by British tennis journalist and author Richard Evans in enshrinement ceremonies at the Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island. Paes recounted his youth playing football and hockey before turning to tennis and eventually following his hockey-captain father as an Olympic medalist. ALSO READ: Rafael Nadal makes first final in two years at Bastad before Paris Olympics participation "It's my greatest honor to be on this stage with not only these legends of the game, people who have inspired me every single day of my life -- not because you've only won Grand Slams, not because you've shaped our sport but every single one of these people have shaped the world we live in," Paes said. "I would like to thank you so much for giving this Indian boy hope." Amritraj, 70, played from 1970 until retiring in 1993, winning 15 ATP singles titles and 399 matches and being ranked as high as 18th in the world and helped India to the Davis Cup finals in 1974 and 1987. "I am humbled and honored to join this incredible and exclusive group that have brought glory to our sport," Amritraj said. After his playing days, Amritraj has helped humanitarian causes, backed ATP and WTA events in India and has acted in the James Bond and Star Trek movie series. "A feeling came over me that I had never experienced," Amritraj said of learning about his election to the Hall. "This was an honor not just for me, for my family, for my parents, but for all of my fellow Indians and my country who live around the world." Like Amritraj, Evans was inducted in the contributor category for his life impact on the sport. Paes, 51, was an 18-time Grand Slam champion in doubles and mixed doubles who was selected in the player category after honing his trade in an Amritraj youth academy. 'Inspire the world' Paes and Amritraj made India the 28th nation represented in the Hall of Fame. "Playing for 1.4 billion people could either be pressure or it could be wind within your wings," Paes said. "I'd like to thank every single one of my countrymen who supported me, who stood by through all the ups and downs, and we've been through a few, but you all were the inspiration, the support, you were even the strength to guide me through when even I didn't believe." Paes won career Grand Slams in both men's and mixed doubles, completing one in men's by winning the 2012 Australian Open and another in mixed by capturing the 2016 French Open. He won the 1996 Atlanta Olympics bronze medal by defeating Brazil's Fernando Meligeni 3-6, 6-2, 6-4. His only ATP singles title came in 1998 on Newport grass in the same venue where he was inducted. "As my father always said to me, if you believe in yourself, you work hard, you'll be passionate not only to win prize money and trophies, but you do that to inspire the world," Paes said. "It has been my greatest honor to play for my countrymen in seven Olympics, to stand where the national anthem is playing in all those Davis Cups, and to prove that we Asians can win Grand Slams and also be number one in our field, be it tennis or anything."

Leander Paes, Vijay Amritraj create history by joining International Tennis Hall of Fame

<p>Ace Indian Tennis star Sumit Nagal attained his best-ever position (71st) in live ATP Rankings despite going down in a weak-effort final of the ATP Perugia Challenger on Sunday against Italy’s Luciano Darderi. Though the Indian was far from convincing in the summit clash that lasted a little over one hour, losing 1-6, 2-6, he still had something to cheer about.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Nagal played his 10th match in 12 days, including his winning spree in Heilbronn, Germany, where he clinched his sixth Challenger crown. That win, however, helped him enter into the 70s (77) in the ATP Rankings, giving him a shot for a spot in men’s singles competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/euro-2024-we-suffered-but-its-good-for-us-southgate-after-englands-gritty-win-over-serbia-732369">Euro 2024: ‘We suffered but it’s good for us’ – Southgate after England’s gritty win over Serbia</a></strong></p>

<p>After his semis win against Spain’s Bernabe Zapata Miralles in a three-set classic, Nagal found it tougher to find his rhythm against the 41-seed Darderi, starting slowly in the finale. The Italian broke Nagal’s serve thrice to win the first set easily in 27 minutes.</p>

<p>Nagal upped his game in the second set, breaking Darderi’s serve, making it 1-2 at one stage. The Italian returned to his best, restoring the advantage by breaking Nagal’s sixth game and making it 4-2. That was enough for Darder to win the title match in straight sets.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Nagal surpasses Leander Paes</h2>

<p>Nagal has had a stunning 2024. From winning his first Challenger Tour title in Chennai in February to his historic second-round outing at the first Slam of the Year – the Australian Open, Nagal made headlines. He even played at the French Open, while his chances of appearing at the Wimbledon are in the pipeline. Besides, the 2024 Paris Games at the Roland Garros will also be the highlight.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">What a fortnight! Left it all out there on the court in the last couple of weeks 🥵<br />
<br />
Super proud of the results. Time to rest and recover for Wimbledon 🌱<br />
<br />
📸 Daniele Combi <a href="https://t.co/foUW6POFzH">pic.twitter.com/foUW6POFzH</a></p>
— Sumit Nagal (@nagalsumit) <a href="https://twitter.com/nagalsumit/status/1802427301210337729?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 16, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Meanwhile, Nagal surpassed Indian tennis legend Leander Paes (73) on the ATP Rankings, becoming the joint-fourth highest-ranked Indian alongside Sashi Menon (71) on the all-time list since the introduction of the computerised rankings in 1973.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Nagal is behind Somdev Devvarman (62), Ramesh Krishnan (23) and Vijay Amritraj (18).&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Ace Indian Tennis star Sumit Nagal attained his best-ever position (71st) in live ATP Rankings despite going down in a weak-effort final of the ATP Perugia Challenger on Sunday against Italy’s Luciano Darderi.

Ace Indian Tennis star Sumit Nagal attained his best-ever position (71st) in live ATP Rankings despite going down in a weak-effort final of the ATP Perugia Challenger on Sunday against Italy’s Luciano Darderi. Though the Indian was far from convincing in the summit clash that lasted a little over one hour, losing 1-6, 2-6, he still had something to cheer about. Nagal played his 10th match in 12 days, including his winning spree in Heilbronn, Germany, where he clinched his sixth Challenger crown. That win, however, helped him enter into the 70s (77) in the ATP Rankings, giving him a shot for a spot in men’s singles competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics. ALSO READ: Euro 2024: ‘We suffered but it’s good for us’ – Southgate after England’s gritty win over Serbia After his semis win against Spain’s Bernabe Zapata Miralles in a three-set classic, Nagal found it tougher to find his rhythm against the 41-seed Darderi, starting slowly in the finale. The Italian broke Nagal’s serve thrice to win the first set easily in 27 minutes. Nagal upped his game in the second set, breaking Darderi’s serve, making it 1-2 at one stage. The Italian returned to his best, restoring the advantage by breaking Nagal’s sixth game and making it 4-2. That was enough for Darder to win the title match in straight sets. Nagal surpasses Leander Paes Nagal has had a stunning 2024. From winning his first Challenger Tour title in Chennai in February to his historic second-round outing at the first Slam of the Year – the Australian Open, Nagal made headlines. He even played at the French Open, while his chances of appearing at the Wimbledon are in the pipeline. Besides, the 2024 Paris Games at the Roland Garros will also be the highlight. What a fortnight! Left it all out there on the court in the last couple of weeks 🥵 Super proud of the results. Time to rest and recover for Wimbledon 🌱 📸 Daniele Combi pic.twitter.com/foUW6POFzH — Sumit Nagal (@nagalsumit) June 16, 2024 × Meanwhile, Nagal surpassed Indian tennis legend Leander Paes (73) on the ATP Rankings, becoming the joint-fourth highest-ranked Indian alongside Sashi Menon (71) on the all-time list since the introduction of the computerised rankings in 1973. Nagal is behind Somdev Devvarman (62), Ramesh Krishnan (23) and Vijay Amritraj (18). (With inputs from agencies)

Tennis: India’s Sumit Nagal attains career-best ATP Ranking despite Perugia final loss

Leander Paes, India’s first entrant in International Tennis Hall of Fame, looks back at his career and Indian tennis’ transformation.

Tennis Hall of Fame: Indian Tennis legend Leander Paes make history

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<p>Tennis legend Leander Paes and businessman Yatin Gupte have acquired a new franchise in the upcoming season of Tennis Premier League (TPL) from Kolkata for season 5. The franchise will compete against the likes of the Pune Jaguars, co-owned by Sonali Bendre, Hyderabad Strikers, co-owned by Rakul Preet Singh, Bengaluru Spartans whose ambassador is Sania Mirza and Punjab Tigers, co-owned by Taapsee Pannu.</p>

<p>All games of the revolutionary Tennis Premier League will be played in the Balewadi Stadium in Pune in association with the All India Tennis Association (AITA) and Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association (MSLTA).</p>

<h2>New Owners delighted with acquisition</h2>

<p>Speaking on why it made sense for him to come on board as the co-owner of the franchise, Indian tennis icon, Leander Paes, said, “I am glad to be the face and co-owner of the team as Kolkata is my hometown, it's where I have some of my fondest memories from. The South Club in Kolkata is the most iconic tennis venue in the country that has hosted the most number of Davis Cup matches in India and has even produced legendary Indian tennis players such as Jaidip Mukerjea and Zeeshan Ali to name a few. I am sure that the presence of a team from Bengal will make season 5 of the Tennis Premier League even bigger than the previous editions.”</p>

<p>The owner of the new franchise, Yatin Gupte, expressed his delight about becoming a part of the Tennis Premier League as he shared, "In terms of recognition and popularity, TPL is the premier competition of Tennis in India, the level of competition in the league is fantastic. That prompted us to invest in a team that'll take on other competitive teams in the tournament and we are excited to be part of such a wonderful tournament. It also gives us the opportunity to support and invest in Indian tennis, eventually helping elevate the status of tennis in the nation.”</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/is-that-an-excuse-for-4-0-mitchell-starc-hits-back-at-stuart-broads-bio-bubble-remark-on-ashes-2021-595925">&nbsp;'Is that an excuse for 4-0': Mitchell Starc hits back at Stuart Broad's bio-bubble remark on Ashes 2021</a></p>

<p>Gupte further added on why the Wardwizard group bought a franchise in the innovative league, he said, “I am a massive tennis fan, I want to help the sport grow in the country as much as possible and the Tennis Premier League provides a clear pathway for us to do that. The League with its innovative format is well on the way to transforming the tennis landscape in India and it fills me with joy that we can actively contribute to this objective of shining the spotlight on sport in the country.”</p>

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Tennis legend Leander Paes and businessman Yatin Gupte have acquired a new franchise in the upcoming season of Tennis Premier League (TPL) from Kolkata for season 5.

Tennis legend Leander Paes and businessman Yatin Gupte have acquired a new franchise in the upcoming season of Tennis Premier League (TPL) from Kolkata for season 5. The franchise will compete against the likes of the Pune Jaguars, co-owned by Sonali Bendre, Hyderabad Strikers, co-owned by Rakul Preet Singh, Bengaluru Spartans whose ambassador is Sania Mirza and Punjab Tigers, co-owned by Taapsee Pannu. All games of the revolutionary Tennis Premier League will be played in the Balewadi Stadium in Pune in association with the All India Tennis Association (AITA) and Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association (MSLTA). New Owners delighted with acquisition Speaking on why it made sense for him to come on board as the co-owner of the franchise, Indian tennis icon, Leander Paes, said, “I am glad to be the face and co-owner of the team as Kolkata is my hometown, it's where I have some of my fondest memories from. The South Club in Kolkata is the most iconic tennis venue in the country that has hosted the most number of Davis Cup matches in India and has even produced legendary Indian tennis players such as Jaidip Mukerjea and Zeeshan Ali to name a few. I am sure that the presence of a team from Bengal will make season 5 of the Tennis Premier League even bigger than the previous editions.” The owner of the new franchise, Yatin Gupte, expressed his delight about becoming a part of the Tennis Premier League as he shared, "In terms of recognition and popularity, TPL is the premier competition of Tennis in India, the level of competition in the league is fantastic. That prompted us to invest in a team that'll take on other competitive teams in the tournament and we are excited to be part of such a wonderful tournament. It also gives us the opportunity to support and invest in Indian tennis, eventually helping elevate the status of tennis in the nation.” ALSO READ | 'Is that an excuse for 4-0': Mitchell Starc hits back at Stuart Broad's bio-bubble remark on Ashes 2021 Gupte further added on why the Wardwizard group bought a franchise in the innovative league, he said, “I am a massive tennis fan, I want to help the sport grow in the country as much as possible and the Tennis Premier League provides a clear pathway for us to do that. The League with its innovative format is well on the way to transforming the tennis landscape in India and it fills me with joy that we can actively contribute to this objective of shining the spotlight on sport in the country.” WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Leander Paes, Yatin Gupte collaborate to acquire franchise in Season 5 of Tennis Premier League

<p>India is not just about cricket. Sure, the game remains a top choice for many but a plethora of non-cricket stalwarts have popularised various other sports. Talking about tennis, the game's rise has been spectacular. Of course, the likes of Vijay Amritraj, Jaideep Mukherjee, Leander Paes, and Mahesh Bhupathi were the pioneers of the game, Sania Mirza, Rohan Bopanna, Ramesh Ramanathan, Sumit Nagal, Somdevdev Burman, etc., have given it&nbsp;an extra mileage in the country.</p>

<p>Riya Bhatia is another tennis sensation&nbsp;on the rise. The 25-year-old is making giant strides and has been India's new No. 2 ranked player for quite some time. In addition, she clinched two national titles --&nbsp;hardcourt and grass-court national championships in 2016. Recently, she was&nbsp;seen playing for the Pro Veri Supersmashers&nbsp;in the ongoing fourth season&nbsp;of the Pro Tennis League (PTL) -- a platform for bidding young stars to hone their skills and showcase their credentials -- and ahead of it, <em>WION's Aditya Sahay</em>&nbsp;had an exclusive interview&nbsp;with her.<em>&nbsp;</em>During the interaction,&nbsp;she shed light on her game style,&nbsp;challenges of playing on different surfaces and named her favourites from the big league of players.</p>

<p><strong>How is Pro Tennis League honing the skills of young players?</strong></p>

<p>I would definitely say it is helping the sport in India. Wish I had something like this when I was a junior. We can mentor juniors and teach them how to play certain points. It's only through such leagues that they can connect with us and vice versa. With Indian people coming and watching us, it's a new format so it's a fun thing for all involved.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>How is it for Riya to play&nbsp;on different surfaces?</strong></p>

<p>I'm an all-round player. Changing surfaces isn't a big issue for me. I enjoy playing on all. My favourite is clay but I've been performing well on hard courts. Grass is something close to my heart and I played my best game there at the WTA in Germany and won the national grasscourt. My game is more of an all-round player where I can change my game style according to the court and conditions needed. Certainly, there are many things I've been working on and these leagues (such as the PTL) are a good way to prepare for big tournaments. You get into a zone by playing such leagues and PTL is definitely helpful.</p>

<p><strong>Your big goals going ahead?</strong></p>

<p>I've been No. 2 in India for a very long time. My highest ranking in singles was 300 in internationals and my goal is to go higher than that. To represent India in the Olympics and win a medal. I also want to play some Grand Slams and win big matches over there.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Whose your favourites among the current&nbsp;league of players?</strong></p>

<p>I don't want to copy but there is a lot to learn from great players. I've always looked up to Roger Federer.&nbsp;He is always calm. Lots to imbibe from him on how he thinks,&nbsp;moves on the court and creates magic. From women, I absolutely love Ashleigh Barty. I feel my game style is close to hers. She's very aggressive. At the moment, I like to watch a lot of matches of Novak Djokovic and Iga Swiatek.</p>

<p>While the Pro Veri Supersmashers have had a forgettable run in the ongoing PTL, Riya's career has surely taken off with a lot of promise.</p>


India is not just about cricket. Sure, the game remains a top choice for many but a plethora of non-cricket stalwarts have popularised various other sports. Talking about tennis, the game's rise has been spectacular.

India is not just about cricket. Sure, the game remains a top choice for many but a plethora of non-cricket stalwarts have popularised various other sports. Talking about tennis, the game's rise has been spectacular. Of course, the likes of Vijay Amritraj, Jaideep Mukherjee, Leander Paes, and Mahesh Bhupathi were the pioneers of the game, Sania Mirza, Rohan Bopanna, Ramesh Ramanathan, Sumit Nagal, Somdevdev Burman, etc., have given it an extra mileage in the country. Riya Bhatia is another tennis sensation on the rise. The 25-year-old is making giant strides and has been India's new No. 2 ranked player for quite some time. In addition, she clinched two national titles -- hardcourt and grass-court national championships in 2016. Recently, she was seen playing for the Pro Veri Supersmashers in the ongoing fourth season of the Pro Tennis League (PTL) -- a platform for bidding young stars to hone their skills and showcase their credentials -- and ahead of it, WION's Aditya Sahay had an exclusive interview with her. During the interaction, she shed light on her game style, challenges of playing on different surfaces and named her favourites from the big league of players. How is Pro Tennis League honing the skills of young players? I would definitely say it is helping the sport in India. Wish I had something like this when I was a junior. We can mentor juniors and teach them how to play certain points. It's only through such leagues that they can connect with us and vice versa. With Indian people coming and watching us, it's a new format so it's a fun thing for all involved. How is it for Riya to play on different surfaces? I'm an all-round player. Changing surfaces isn't a big issue for me. I enjoy playing on all. My favourite is clay but I've been performing well on hard courts. Grass is something close to my heart and I played my best game there at the WTA in Germany and won the national grasscourt. My game is more of an all-round player where I can change my game style according to the court and conditions needed. Certainly, there are many things I've been working on and these leagues (such as the PTL) are a good way to prepare for big tournaments. You get into a zone by playing such leagues and PTL is definitely helpful. Your big goals going ahead? I've been No. 2 in India for a very long time. My highest ranking in singles was 300 in internationals and my goal is to go higher than that. To represent India in the Olympics and win a medal. I also want to play some Grand Slams and win big matches over there. Whose your favourites among the current league of players? I don't want to copy but there is a lot to learn from great players. I've always looked up to Roger Federer. He is always calm. Lots to imbibe from him on how he thinks, moves on the court and creates magic. From women, I absolutely love Ashleigh Barty. I feel my game style is close to hers. She's very aggressive. At the moment, I like to watch a lot of matches of Novak Djokovic and Iga Swiatek. While the Pro Veri Supersmashers have had a forgettable run in the ongoing PTL, Riya's career has surely taken off with a lot of promise.

Exclusive: My goal is to represent India in the Olympics and win a medal, says Riya Bhatia

<p>A metropolitan magistrate court here has held in its order in a domestic violence case filed by model-actor Rhea Pillai against her former partner, tennis player Leander Paes, that he committed various acts of domestic violence against her.</p>

<p>The court also directed Paes to pay monthly rent of Rs 50,000, apart from monthly maintenance of Rs 1 lakh to Pillai if the latter chooses to leave their shared residence.</p>

<p>Metropolitan magistrate Komalsing Rajput had passed the order earlier this month, which was made available on Wednesday. Pillai had approached the court in 2014 seeking relief and protection under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, saying that she was in a live-in relationship, akin to marriage, with Paes for eight years.</p>

<p>She had claimed that Paes, through his acts and conduct "caused verbal, emotional and economic abuse, which resulted in tremendous emotional violence and trauma".</p>

<p>The magistrate, in her order, said, "It is proved that the respondent caused various acts of domestic violence."</p>

<p>Directing Paes to pay monthly rent of Rs 50,000, apart from monthly maintenance of Rs 1 lakh to Pillai, the court, however, said if she chooses to continue living in their shared residence (at Bandra), she will not be entitled to monetary relief.</p>

<p>The magistrate said that with Paes' career in tennis 'almost over', it would cause 'serious prejudice' to order him to live in a rented home while also paying maintenance to Pillai.&nbsp;</p>


A metropolitan magistrate court here has held in its order in a domestic violence case filed by model-actor Rhea Pillai against her former partner, tennis player Leander Paes, that he committed various acts of domestic violence against her.

A metropolitan magistrate court here has held in its order in a domestic violence case filed by model-actor Rhea Pillai against her former partner, tennis player Leander Paes, that he committed various acts of domestic violence against her. The court also directed Paes to pay monthly rent of Rs 50,000, apart from monthly maintenance of Rs 1 lakh to Pillai if the latter chooses to leave their shared residence. Metropolitan magistrate Komalsing Rajput had passed the order earlier this month, which was made available on Wednesday. Pillai had approached the court in 2014 seeking relief and protection under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, saying that she was in a live-in relationship, akin to marriage, with Paes for eight years. She had claimed that Paes, through his acts and conduct "caused verbal, emotional and economic abuse, which resulted in tremendous emotional violence and trauma". The magistrate, in her order, said, "It is proved that the respondent caused various acts of domestic violence." Directing Paes to pay monthly rent of Rs 50,000, apart from monthly maintenance of Rs 1 lakh to Pillai, the court, however, said if she chooses to continue living in their shared residence (at Bandra), she will not be entitled to monetary relief. The magistrate said that with Paes' career in tennis 'almost over', it would cause 'serious prejudice' to order him to live in a rented home while also paying maintenance to Pillai.

Leander Paes committed various acts of domestic violence against Rhea Pillai: Court

Not often does one get to make a living out of his, or her, passion. Moreover, not many manage to don, and perform, various roles while following their passion at a professional level.

Not often does one get to make a living out of his, or her, passion. Moreover, not many manage to don, and perform, various roles while following their passion at a professional level. Coach Sanjay Singh has done it all. From starting as a player to turning into a physio and honing his skills as an international coach, Mr. Singh has ticked several boxes while staying relevant in the field of tennis for years. Above all, his childlike passion remains infectious. Such has been his success story that Mr. Singh has taken Indian tennis into uncharted territory. After all, how often do we see Indian coaches being active in WTA or ATP tours? Also, have we often heard about Indian coaches for elite non-Indian tennis players? The answer to both the queries would have been in the negative if not for Sanjay Singh. However, Mr. Singh is one such personality who has single-handedly kept Indian tennis' flag high with his presence as a coach of Brazilian youngster Luisa Stefani and American star Hayley Carter. ALSO READ | Peng Shuai row: China hits back at WTA for 'politicising sport' after it suspends all tournaments in country In an exclusive interaction with WION news' Aditya Sahay, Sanjay Singh dwelled upon many aspects of his career, the several role transformations, satisfying journey with Luisa and Carter so far, the camaraderie with Indian tennis great Leander Paes and the state of affairs with regard to tennis in the cricket-crazy country. EXCERPTS: Like mentioned, not often do we see Indian coaches for foreign players. You have changed it all in many ways. How did it all happen? (Laughs) Well, I was a player initially. I was playing in Orissa Open. It so happened that I was playing in one court and the other player had a cramp. Because I used to work as the helper, I was asked to chip in and help. I assisted him and came back to play my match. At that time, I thought we don't have focus on working on players' fitness in India. So, I thought to take this up. That's where I started as a physiotherapist. During Davis Cup tie, Ramesh Krishnan's trainer didn't turn up, hence, they called me and I worked with him. When his trainer came back, Leander asked me to join him. There is no end to learning. You learn from small kids also. In India, they think they know everything. They don't respect others. Among Indian players, only few are travelling abroad for training and all. You need to have awareness and the learning ability within you. Always!. In one of your interviews, you rightly pointed out how India is a country where people like to stay in their own preconceived views or opinions. Many labelled you as 'one who gives massages to Leander Paes'. Was it a conscious effort to revamp your image or you never paid heed to all such claims? Before I started off, I was a tennis player. Since there was no body looking after the players' body, their demands off the court and their suffering, I started working on this aspect. With Leander, I used to work with him. But since my knowledge of tennis was always there, he kept me involved asking 'Dadda (brother), what to do, did I mess it up?' I never had to tell people what I was doing with Leander. We both knew where we were heading and that's what mattered. End of the day 'let the racket talk'. It (criticism) never bothered me as it was all behind my back. Hence, many talented players' careers are now over. They stop working on themselves after a bit of initial success. It is sad. Many didn't want to learn that often. Leander always tries to grasp more in every scenario. Unlike in India, I get much more respect in Florida. For our Prime Minister, they still call him as 'the chaiwala (tea-seller)' but one doesn't see, or acknowledge, his journey and development. We need to respect each other and see one's growth. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sanjay singh (@coachsanjaysingh) × Coming to Luisa Stefani and Hayley Carter! Both are different individuals and, hence, have different styles, strengths and weaknesses. While Stefani is the first Brazilian woman to feature in the WTA's Top 10 and occupies the ninth rank in doubles, American star Carter has also come a long way to sit at the 25th spot in doubles rankings. How did your association begin with the duo? What defines them of both? Can you highlight few areas where they have shown vast improvement under your watchful eyes? When I used to travel with Leander, my base was in Florida. During my off-season, I used to train at Saddlebrook Tennis Academy. Back then, I was asked if I can train this young girl called Luisa Stefani. I saw her and was floored by her talent and skills. I was like 'wow, this girl has fire, she is fast and comes to the net'. Since she wanted to be pro, she had to change her visa. She couldn't get the visa initially and, thus, went back. In 2018, she returned. Then we started playing and practicing. There was one month of intense training. Her parents then asked me to travel with her. So I started in April 2019. In May, she won the Italy Championship in England. Thus, she had a chance to enter the Wimbledon but she was alternate, hence, couldn't get in. The same fate followed in the US Open. On the other hand, Hayley was looking for a partner. Luisa asked me and I told her play with Hayley. They won the Uzbekistan Championship (i.e. Tashkent Open) in 2019 and then they lost the third round in Australian Open 2020. Luisa has a big serve whereas Hayley attacked the net more often. Only drawback was the overhead shot. That was the area we were lagging behind. But we started combining well and then after that Hayley got hurt in Wimbledon this year. Then we got Gabriela Dabrowski with Luisa. We reached the final of Cincinnati 2021 and semi-final of US Open. During the pandemic, we weren't training. We used to be in the bubble. We were getting tested. RT-PCR tests and being confined inside was the new normal. Mentally it was very tough and, hence, many players are now burning out. The only time they opened up little bit was during the Cincinnati (Open). Life was tough. We couldn't go out. One had to resort to Uber Eats. We used to have a table downstairs in the lobby where the food was kept by the Uber guy and then we had to take it. It was all about dealing with the bio bubble life and surviving (sighs). View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sanjay singh (@coachsanjaysingh) × The world of sports knows a lot about Leander Paes. He remains the face of Indian tennis. Share your equation with him. How did it start and where is it at present? How has he helped in your transformation from being a physio to coach? See, it was during the Davis Cup tie in New Delhi when I met him. I used to work in the hotel as a helper supervisor. In 1996, it was tough for me to manage work and my tennis stuff. So I left my job and came on board with Paes. He wanted me to learn everything because he never trusted anyone else. Let me tell you, I used to travel with a stringing machine as he was playing so much. Everyday 7-8 rackets were used. But, Leander has always encouraged me. He used to ask me to interact with people, observe others and share inputs. He always believed in me. I used to be his brother, buddy and everything. He says he wants to retire in Wimbledon 2022. Let's see. He tells me 'Dadda, you will get me ready for Wimbledon'. We both call each other 'Dadda'. That sums up the whole equation, doesn't it? (smiles). View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sanjay singh (@coachsanjaysingh) × ALSO READ | EXCLUSIVE | Dark clouds of struggle have a 'silver' lining for Mirabai Chanu's coach Vijay Sharma Lastly, thoughts on tennis in India. From Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi, Rohan Bopanna, Sania Mirza to Sumit Nagal, the sport has come a long way in the country but there obviously remains huge scope for improvement and participation among the youth. Your views regarding the status of the game in the country at present? In India, they should have a team who knows about the game firstly. Mr Sundar Iyer (Secretary of the Maharashtra Lawn Tennis Association (MSLTA) and Manager of Indian Davis Cup Team) is doing great in getting tournaments in India. He's doing very well. See, if youngsters play more tournaments, sponsor them. Work for the players. Give them their due by supplying resources and everything that matters to build their careers. Even a peon is getting an India jacket. Give it to people who need it more. They need to sponsor juniors so that they can play tournaments outside India. It helps in building their games at a young level. For the unversed, in Brazil there are 7-8 juniors playing on tours. How many in India? Hardly! For players, they should learn from Leander. If they do good in one game, they get complacent. Their collars go up after one good win. They don't know next week is a new week. Nowadays, we tend to go for shortcuts. Leander was never like this. Now I'm in states, when I see things there, players never have to worry about tennis court. Here, staff ask for INR 100 as court fees. Wherever you play, they will be charging you. How can a youngster manage all this, who is just trying to come up the ranks? Unless and until they change the entire system, nothing will happen. Hence, many players move abroad to train and manage themselves. Here for everything, they will charge and still not provide all facilities. They've to change a lot. We have to be player-friendly and not administration-friendly. India is such a great country. We have everything. But we face so many problems unnecessarily. Base has to change. Believe me, we have such great potential and that we can do wonders. But youngsters don't get support. In abroad, players get full support. Outside India, the association is taking care of players and coaches. In Brazil, association are paying for trainers who are travelling with players. Unimaginable. It cannot even be expected in India. Even such thinking is missing in the country. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sanjay singh (@coachsanjaysingh) × Luisa won the first medal for Brazil (bronze in women's doubles in Tokyo 2020). Their government called and felicitated me. As a foreign coach, they are calling and honouring me. This doesn't happen in India. The coach can give you the idea, but who will bring you to the court -- a trainer. If you have a Ferrari but the engine doesn't work properly, it is as good as a showpiece. Hence, a lot needs to change. Be more player-friendly, focus on coaches and trainers, give them their due and build youngsters' careers from the junior level itself.

EXCLUSIVE | Who is Sanjay Singh? A close ally of Leander Paes & guiding light of Luisa Stefani-Hayley Carter

Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi: Top five moments together

Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi are arguably two of India's greatest Tennis players who created headlines both on and off the court. Their partnership took them to the summit of the sport and they won 3 Grand Slam titles together and still hold the record for the longest unbeaten doubles streak in Davis Cup. They have shared a prickly relationship over the years but have come together to reveal the inside story of their highs and lows in a documentary series that is now streaming. WION Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo spoke to Bhupathi and Paes about their camaraderie, the endless controversies and the closure that the series provides.

WION Exclusive: Tennis legends open up on prickly relationship

<p>Mahesh Bhupathi doesn't mince his words one bit when told his name along with Leander Paes' is synonymous with controversies in Indian tennis.&nbsp;&nbsp;"If it's just a happy story nobody wants to tell it," he says. One of the most successful Indian tennis players of all time, Bhupathi dominated world tennis with Paes in the late 90s and the early 2000s.</p>

<p>The duo was the first Indian pair to win the Wimbledon doubles title in 1999 before they had a fallout in 2000. Nonetheless, the champions never let their strained relationship affect their performances on the court as they kept on winning and scripting major feats to create an enviable legacy in Indian tennis.</p>

<p>As the two tennis greats come together to portray their journey to stardom and give fans an insight into their controversial yet successful professional relationship in the upcoming documentary - 'Breakpoint', Paes and Bhupathi spoke exclusively to WION's Digvijay Singh Deo. In the candid interaction, Bhupati did not mince his words when he said nobody wants to hear stories with a happy ending&nbsp;but those with controversies in it.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I was jokingly telling Leander when we met for the first time at the shoot a few weeks ago that this show would have never come about had there been no controversy. Otherwise, it had been a straightforward Leander, Mahesh coming together winning a few Grand Slams everyone is so happy. If it's just a happy story nobody wants to tell it, everyone wants us to tell our story due to controversies surrounding it. Hopefully, all your questions will be answered when you see the show," Bhupathi told WION.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read</strong> -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/was-boxing-in-rio-olympics-2016-rigged-independent-probe-reveals-shocking-details-of-bout-manipulation-417377">Was boxing in Rio Olympics 2016 rigged? Independent probe reveals shocking details of 'bout manipulation'</a></p>

<p>'Breakpoint' is a web series that perfectly captures the era of domination where Paes and Bhupathi were on top of the world before their split sent shockwaves in the Indian sports fraternity. The pair, who won a staggering 30 Grand Slams between them, displayed incredible dominance as a pair in doubles tennis.</p>

<p>"Breakpoint is a true story of two young Indian boys on how we embarked on a dream in the late 80s. On how we had a dream that we will win the Wimbledon and be no.1 in the world and actually what we had to do to achieve those dreams," said Paes giving an insight on what fans should expect from the docu-drama.</p>

<p>Paes also spoke about what went wrong between him and Bhupati which led to their public fallout and split before they reunited again to continue winning for India at the highest level. Paes reckoned it was not the most perfect of partnerships but the duo went on to achieve what they had dreamed&nbsp;of as young boys when starting out in their respective careers.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read -</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/jumping-to-increase-social-media-followers-gautam-gambhir-slams-r-ashwins-critics-after-eoin-morgan-controversy-417317">Jumping to increase social media followers: Gautam Gambhir slams R Ashwin's critics after Eoin Morgan controversy</a></p>

<p>"The relationship saw the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. we pioneered through an ecosystem of sport that had no infrastructure or no textbook to show us how to win Wimbledon. We only had each other. And we lent on each other through the highs and fought through the lows but in lapse, we achieved our dreams and we are here today to inspire children across 190 countries to show them how winning is done. And also to tell them that champions are allowed to be vulnerable and make their mistakes too," said Paes, who holds the record for most doubles victories in Davis Cup.</p>

<p>Though Paes and Bhupathi achieved more than most in Indian tennis, there remains a question - Could they have won more had&nbsp;he and Paes stayed friends throughout their glorious careers? Bhupathi, a former World no.1 said he didn't need to prove to the world that the pair could have won so much more but he remains super proud of the magnificent achievements they managed to attain despite their controversial relationship.</p>

<p>"I don't have to do this series to tell you we would have won more. I watched it whole (Breakpoint) and it gave me goosebumps so many times to see the kind of footage that I have been able to see. Super proud of what we were able to achieve, could we have achieved more - yeah, but in the context of did anybody achieve what we did before we came along, it did right so we take the positive out of it," said Bhupathi.</p>

<p>Bhupathi also spoke about how the duo could have possibly settled their differences during their split by talking to each other and ensuring better communication. He also brought up an example from the documentary where Paes' travelling partner at the time of their split in 2002 felt that Bhupathai had already decided to partner with Belgian tennis player&nbsp; Max Mirnyi. However, Bhupathi clarified he didn't play with Mirnyi and instead partnered with American ace&nbsp;Jan-Michael Gambill.</p>

<p>"If we had made an effort to communicate better and keep a lot of people on the periphery instead of letting us manage day to day, things would have been a lot better," said Bhupathi.</p>

<p>"Just to give you an example, I watched the show in entirety yesterday - When we split in 2002, I went to Leander's room we ended up not playing together and I had to search for a partner. Sanjay, who was Leander's travelling partner at the time, verbally states that I had already fixed up a partner to play next week with Max Mirnyi. It was pure fabrication and I know Leander long enough to know he was not a guy to dig into that kind of stuff. And I did not play with Max Mirnyi that week, I played with Jan-Michael Gambill. So there were too many people just putting stuff like that which kind of snowballed into getting to where we were," he added.</p>


Mahesh Bhupathi doesn't mince his words one bit when told his name along with Leander Paes' is synonymous with controversies in Indian tennis. "If it's just a happy story nobody wants to tell it," he says.

Mahesh Bhupathi doesn't mince his words one bit when told his name along with Leander Paes' is synonymous with controversies in Indian tennis. "If it's just a happy story nobody wants to tell it," he says. One of the most successful Indian tennis players of all time, Bhupathi dominated world tennis with Paes in the late 90s and the early 2000s. The duo was the first Indian pair to win the Wimbledon doubles title in 1999 before they had a fallout in 2000. Nonetheless, the champions never let their strained relationship affect their performances on the court as they kept on winning and scripting major feats to create an enviable legacy in Indian tennis. As the two tennis greats come together to portray their journey to stardom and give fans an insight into their controversial yet successful professional relationship in the upcoming documentary - 'Breakpoint', Paes and Bhupathi spoke exclusively to WION's Digvijay Singh Deo. In the candid interaction, Bhupati did not mince his words when he said nobody wants to hear stories with a happy ending but those with controversies in it. "I was jokingly telling Leander when we met for the first time at the shoot a few weeks ago that this show would have never come about had there been no controversy. Otherwise, it had been a straightforward Leander, Mahesh coming together winning a few Grand Slams everyone is so happy. If it's just a happy story nobody wants to tell it, everyone wants us to tell our story due to controversies surrounding it. Hopefully, all your questions will be answered when you see the show," Bhupathi told WION. Also Read - Was boxing in Rio Olympics 2016 rigged? Independent probe reveals shocking details of 'bout manipulation' 'Breakpoint' is a web series that perfectly captures the era of domination where Paes and Bhupathi were on top of the world before their split sent shockwaves in the Indian sports fraternity. The pair, who won a staggering 30 Grand Slams between them, displayed incredible dominance as a pair in doubles tennis. "Breakpoint is a true story of two young Indian boys on how we embarked on a dream in the late 80s. On how we had a dream that we will win the Wimbledon and be no.1 in the world and actually what we had to do to achieve those dreams," said Paes giving an insight on what fans should expect from the docu-drama. Paes also spoke about what went wrong between him and Bhupati which led to their public fallout and split before they reunited again to continue winning for India at the highest level. Paes reckoned it was not the most perfect of partnerships but the duo went on to achieve what they had dreamed of as young boys when starting out in their respective careers. Also Read - Jumping to increase social media followers: Gautam Gambhir slams R Ashwin's critics after Eoin Morgan controversy "The relationship saw the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. we pioneered through an ecosystem of sport that had no infrastructure or no textbook to show us how to win Wimbledon. We only had each other. And we lent on each other through the highs and fought through the lows but in lapse, we achieved our dreams and we are here today to inspire children across 190 countries to show them how winning is done. And also to tell them that champions are allowed to be vulnerable and make their mistakes too," said Paes, who holds the record for most doubles victories in Davis Cup. Though Paes and Bhupathi achieved more than most in Indian tennis, there remains a question - Could they have won more had he and Paes stayed friends throughout their glorious careers? Bhupathi, a former World no.1 said he didn't need to prove to the world that the pair could have won so much more but he remains super proud of the magnificent achievements they managed to attain despite their controversial relationship. "I don't have to do this series to tell you we would have won more. I watched it whole (Breakpoint) and it gave me goosebumps so many times to see the kind of footage that I have been able to see. Super proud of what we were able to achieve, could we have achieved more - yeah, but in the context of did anybody achieve what we did before we came along, it did right so we take the positive out of it," said Bhupathi. Bhupathi also spoke about how the duo could have possibly settled their differences during their split by talking to each other and ensuring better communication. He also brought up an example from the documentary where Paes' travelling partner at the time of their split in 2002 felt that Bhupathai had already decided to partner with Belgian tennis player Max Mirnyi. However, Bhupathi clarified he didn't play with Mirnyi and instead partnered with American ace Jan-Michael Gambill. "If we had made an effort to communicate better and keep a lot of people on the periphery instead of letting us manage day to day, things would have been a lot better," said Bhupathi. "Just to give you an example, I watched the show in entirety yesterday - When we split in 2002, I went to Leander's room we ended up not playing together and I had to search for a partner. Sanjay, who was Leander's travelling partner at the time, verbally states that I had already fixed up a partner to play next week with Max Mirnyi. It was pure fabrication and I know Leander long enough to know he was not a guy to dig into that kind of stuff. And I did not play with Max Mirnyi that week, I played with Jan-Michael Gambill. So there were too many people just putting stuff like that which kind of snowballed into getting to where we were," he added.

Champions are allowed to be vulnerable too - Leander Paes-Mahesh Bhupathi open up on their controversy-marred legacy

<p>This year marks the 20th anniversary of the horrific 9/11 attacks that claimed over 3000 lives. The attack on the World Trade Centres took place just two days after the conclusion of the US Open 2001.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi took part in the American Grand Slam but lost the first round of the competition. After the tournament ended, the India duo stayed in New York to prepare for the upcoming Davis Cup.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/911-attacks-and-a-money-trail-how-terrorists-planned-the-devastating-attacks-412286" hreflang="en">9/11 attacks and a money trail: How terrorists planned the devastating attacks</a></p>

<p>Paes has now revealed that he was present in the World Trade Centre Tower 1 a day before the attacks took place. In an interview with the Indian Express, the Tennis star said that he left the city and by the time he reached Frankfurt the attack had taken place.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to Paes, he was unaware of the attacks before the German security entered the flight and where scanning before the team allowed passengers, including Paes to deboard. He asked a high-ranking security official behind the strict checking.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The head of security basically took me to his office, sat me down and turned on the television," he says.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/third-tower-was-also-brought-down-on-911-the-conspiracy-theories-and-importance-of-tower-seven-412317" hreflang="en">'Third tower was also brought down on 9/11': The conspiracy theories and importance of Tower Seven</a></p>

<p>"That’s where I saw the twin towers go down."</p>

<p>Whereas, his doubles partner Mahesh Bhupathi was just 72 blocks away from the attack site.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Recalling the events, Bhupathi said: "In the beginning we thought it was a plane crash, and then we saw the second plane going into the building."</p>

<p>"There was a lot of fear and we had friends in the WTC vicinity who couldn’t get out. They had to walk all the way to my apartment, it was just a mess," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Honestly, I don’t think anyone was really thinking of tennis at the time. When this happened, everyone was just thinking about life. Perspective changes," Bhupathi added.</p>


This year marks the 20th anniversary of the horrific 9/11 attacks that claimed over 3000 lives. The attack on the World Trade Centres took place just two days after the conclusion of the US Open 2001.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the horrific 9/11 attacks that claimed over 3000 lives. The attack on the World Trade Centres took place just two days after the conclusion of the US Open 2001. Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi took part in the American Grand Slam but lost the first round of the competition. After the tournament ended, the India duo stayed in New York to prepare for the upcoming Davis Cup. ALSO READ: 9/11 attacks and a money trail: How terrorists planned the devastating attacks Paes has now revealed that he was present in the World Trade Centre Tower 1 a day before the attacks took place. In an interview with the Indian Express, the Tennis star said that he left the city and by the time he reached Frankfurt the attack had taken place. According to Paes, he was unaware of the attacks before the German security entered the flight and where scanning before the team allowed passengers, including Paes to deboard. He asked a high-ranking security official behind the strict checking. "The head of security basically took me to his office, sat me down and turned on the television," he says. ALSO READ: 'Third tower was also brought down on 9/11': The conspiracy theories and importance of Tower Seven "That’s where I saw the twin towers go down." Whereas, his doubles partner Mahesh Bhupathi was just 72 blocks away from the attack site. Recalling the events, Bhupathi said: "In the beginning we thought it was a plane crash, and then we saw the second plane going into the building." "There was a lot of fear and we had friends in the WTC vicinity who couldn’t get out. They had to walk all the way to my apartment, it was just a mess," he added. "Honestly, I don’t think anyone was really thinking of tennis at the time. When this happened, everyone was just thinking about life. Perspective changes," Bhupathi added.

'I was at World Trade Centre a day before 9/11 attacks', says Leander Paes

<p>They finally confirm! Kim Sharma and Leander Paes are an item together as she made her relationship Insta official.</p>

<p>The actress took to her Instagram handle to share a photo with the tennis player. While Kim faces the camera, Leander has reserved his eyes only for the actress. She shared the photo with a nazar amulet emoji and a couple kissing emoji.</p>

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<p>Kim Sharma and Leander Paes’s dating rumours began when they were spotted holidaying together. The duo vacationed in Goa a few weeks ago. Since then, they have made a number of appearances together.</p>

<p>It was just a month ago when Kim Sharma took to Instagram to pen an appreciation post for Paes. She had shared an old post of Leander’s winning moment at the Atlanta Olympics and congratulated him on the 25th anniversary of his bronze win.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, there is an upcoming docu-drama on tennis stars Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes by filmmaker Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari and Nitesh Tiwari. Titled Break Point, the ZEE5 series will be a special behind-the-scenes narrative on their Wimbledon win in 1999.</p>


They finally confirm! Kim Sharma and Leander Paes are an item together as she made her relationship Insta official. The actress took to her Instagram handle to share a photo with the tennis player.

They finally confirm! Kim Sharma and Leander Paes are an item together as she made her relationship Insta official. The actress took to her Instagram handle to share a photo with the tennis player. While Kim faces the camera, Leander has reserved his eyes only for the actress. She shared the photo with a nazar amulet emoji and a couple kissing emoji. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kimi Sharma (@kimsharmaofficial) × Kim Sharma and Leander Paes’s dating rumours began when they were spotted holidaying together. The duo vacationed in Goa a few weeks ago. Since then, they have made a number of appearances together. It was just a month ago when Kim Sharma took to Instagram to pen an appreciation post for Paes. She had shared an old post of Leander’s winning moment at the Atlanta Olympics and congratulated him on the 25th anniversary of his bronze win. Meanwhile, there is an upcoming docu-drama on tennis stars Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes by filmmaker Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari and Nitesh Tiwari. Titled Break Point, the ZEE5 series will be a special behind-the-scenes narrative on their Wimbledon win in 1999.

Kim Sharma makes her relationship with Leander Paes Insta official

<p>Streaming platform&nbsp;Zee 5 is all&nbsp;set to bring the intriguing and untold Lee-Hesh Bromance to Breakup story to your screens.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Zee 5 has partnered with award-winning filmmaker duo Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari and Nitesh Tiwari to helm ‘Break Point’, a 7-part series based on the iconic on-court partnership between living legends, Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi and their off-court lives.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The makers revealed the first poster of the&nbsp;Zee 5 Original series today.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-pooja-bedi-trolled-for-anti-vaccine-remarks-calling-covid-protocols-useless-408790" hreflang="en">Pooja Bedi trolled for anti-vaccine remarks, calling COVID protocols 'useless'</a></p>

<p>Commenting on helming ‘Break Point’, Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari and Nitesh Tiwari in a joint statement said, "It's great to bring to screen a series like this on a home-grown video streaming platform like Zee 5. Working with icons like Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes has been surreal and to bring their untold story to screen is something that we will cherish forever.”</p>

<p>Leander Paes said, "I enjoyed this walk down memory lane shooting for ‘Break Point’ with wonderful storytellers like Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, Nitesh Tiwari in collaboration with Zee 5. &nbsp;While Mahesh and my on-court partnership was widely covered, and our off-court chemistry was largely speculated. This is the first time that our fans will get to see and hear it all, first-hand. Mahesh and I worked really hard to put India on the top of world tennis and we are glad that we are getting a chance to present our story to the world, like never before. Enjoy our journey.”</p>

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<p>Mahesh Bhupathi said, “It is no secret that I am reserved when it comes to communicating, so this is a big step for me to relive the journey and put it all out there in the most candid and honest manner. But, at the same time, I am happy that our fans will get to see our journey which was a mix of sweat, perseverance, brotherhood and at times blood and tears as well. This is surely going to be a treat for all, and I am thankful to Ashwiny, Nitesh and Zee 5 for giving it everything.”</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/recap-of-the-month-cinemacon-2021-spider-man-trailer-leaked-top-entertainment-news-of-august-408775" hreflang="en">Recap of the month! CinemaCon 2021, 'Spider-Man' trailer leaked: Top entertainment news of August</a></p>

<p>‘Break Point’ is a telling narrative on their friendship, brotherhood, partnership, belief, hard work and ambitions which made them one of the most feared doubles pair during the late 1990s, and even ranked world number 1 in the year 1999. But it also throws light on their bitter breakup and how they couldn’t hold on to their meteoric rise. Above all, it’s a tale of two friends who had planned for success but not for life after success.</p>


Streaming platform Zee 5 is all set to bring the intriguing and untold Lee-Hesh Bromance to Breakup story to your screens. Zee 5 has partnered with award-winning filmmaker duo Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari and Nitesh Tiwari to helm ‘Break Point’, a 7-part series based on the iconic on-court partnership between living legends, Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi and their off-court lives.

Streaming platform Zee 5 is all set to bring the intriguing and untold Lee-Hesh Bromance to Breakup story to your screens. Zee 5 has partnered with award-winning filmmaker duo Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari and Nitesh Tiwari to helm ‘Break Point’, a 7-part series based on the iconic on-court partnership between living legends, Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi and their off-court lives. The makers revealed the first poster of the Zee 5 Original series today. Pooja Bedi trolled for anti-vaccine remarks, calling COVID protocols 'useless' Commenting on helming ‘Break Point’, Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari and Nitesh Tiwari in a joint statement said, "It's great to bring to screen a series like this on a home-grown video streaming platform like Zee 5. Working with icons like Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes has been surreal and to bring their untold story to screen is something that we will cherish forever.” Leander Paes said, "I enjoyed this walk down memory lane shooting for ‘Break Point’ with wonderful storytellers like Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, Nitesh Tiwari in collaboration with Zee 5. While Mahesh and my on-court partnership was widely covered, and our off-court chemistry was largely speculated. This is the first time that our fans will get to see and hear it all, first-hand. Mahesh and I worked really hard to put India on the top of world tennis and we are glad that we are getting a chance to present our story to the world, like never before. Enjoy our journey.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mahesh Bhupathi (@mbhupathi) × Mahesh Bhupathi said, “It is no secret that I am reserved when it comes to communicating, so this is a big step for me to relive the journey and put it all out there in the most candid and honest manner. But, at the same time, I am happy that our fans will get to see our journey which was a mix of sweat, perseverance, brotherhood and at times blood and tears as well. This is surely going to be a treat for all, and I am thankful to Ashwiny, Nitesh and Zee 5 for giving it everything.” Recap of the month! CinemaCon 2021, 'Spider-Man' trailer leaked: Top entertainment news of August ‘Break Point’ is a telling narrative on their friendship, brotherhood, partnership, belief, hard work and ambitions which made them one of the most feared doubles pair during the late 1990s, and even ranked world number 1 in the year 1999. But it also throws light on their bitter breakup and how they couldn’t hold on to their meteoric rise. Above all, it’s a tale of two friends who had planned for success but not for life after success.

First look of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi’s ‘Break Point’ revealed

Indian sport had drawn a blank at every Olympics since Moscow in 1980 and an individual medal at the Olympics was considered a bridge too far after past heartbreaks. It took a braveheart performance to change the air of despondency. Leander Paes won a Bronze medal in Men's Singles Tennis at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and he tells WION Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo how he kept his focus even as no one believed that an Olympic medal could be achieved.

WION Broadband Olympic Edition: Tennis star Leander Paes on how he kept focus when no one believed on him

WION in an exclusive conversation spoke to Indian tennis player Leander Paes. Paes is a man who single-handedly put India back on the Olympics podium.

Indian tennis player Leander Paes on WION Broadband Olympics Edition

Wrestler KD Jadhav had won India a first individual Olympic medal at the 1952 Olympic Games. The wait for an Indian to get back on the podium in an individual sport lasted 44 years before Leander Paes ended the drought at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Paes beat Brazil's Fernando Meligini in three sets to create history and he takes Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo through the highs and lows of that match and the emotions that followed.That win saw Paes emulate his father Vece Paes who had won an Olympic Bronze in 1972 with the Indian Hockey team. The Paes' are just the second father-son duo from India to win Olympic medals after Hockey wizard Dhyan Chand and his son Ashok Kumar.

WION Broadband Olympics Edition: Paes' triumph against the odds at Atlanta

Leander Paes gave India hope with a determined run into the semifinals at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. At a time when Indian players struggled to win Grand Slam matches, Paes defied the odds by storming into the semis. Paes'charge was eventually ended by top seed Andre Agassi but not before the Tennis great was made to work hard for the win. Paes speaks to Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo on the emotions of that match and how an injury almost derailed his medal hopes.

WION Broadband Olympics Edition: How Paes made Agassi work hard for the win

WION Broadband Olympic Edition: How Paes made Agassi work hard for the win

WION Broadband Olympic Edition: Paes' triumph against the odds at Atlanta

Leander Paes' Olympic medal in 1996 ushered in a new era of belief in the Indian sporting community. Paes was drawn to face World No. 1 Pete Sampras in the opening round but lady luck smiled as Sampras withdrew. Paes began his campaign with wins over Richey Reneburg, Nicolas Pereira, Thomas Enqvist and Renzo Furlan and he opens up on those matches with Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo.

WION Broadband Olympic Edition: Determined Leander Paes races through opening rounds

Leander Paes, one of the most decorated sportspersons not only in India but the entire world, in an exclusive interview with WION’s Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, opened up on his life in lockdown, his trophy-laden career, future of sports post-coronavirus pandemic, motivation to play in another Olympics, and more.

WION Sports Broadband Edition with Indian tennis icon Leander Paes

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Leander Paes, News on Leander Paes, stories on Leander Paes, articles on Leander Paes, Leander Paes stories at Wion, Leander Paes news, Leander Paes latest news

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WION Exclusive: Tennis legends open up on prickly relationship

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First look of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi’s ‘Break Point’ revealed

WION Broadband Olympic Edition: Tennis star Leander Paes on how he kept focus when no one believed on him

Indian tennis player Leander Paes on WION Broadband Olympics Edition

WION Broadband Olympics Edition: Paes' triumph against the odds at Atlanta

WION Broadband Olympics Edition: How Paes made Agassi work hard for the win

WION Broadband Olympic Edition: How Paes made Agassi work hard for the win

WION Broadband Olympic Edition: Paes' triumph against the odds at Atlanta

WION Broadband Olympic Edition: Determined Leander Paes races through opening rounds

WION Sports Broadband Edition with Indian tennis icon Leander Paes