New Delhi: India’s tennis icon Leander Paes will display four of his cherished trophies when he becomes one of the first Indian players to join the esteemed International Tennis Hall of Fame during the induction ceremony scheduled for later this month.
The announcement was made by the 18-time Grand Slam winner at a special Wimbledon-themed event that was held at the Taj Hotel in London on Saturday. Along with Paes, Vijay Amritraj, another tennis legend, will also be inducted into the Class of 2024. Amritraj has picked his Padma Shri, awarded to him in 1983, that he will be flaunting in the induction ceremony.
“I am going to be showcasing four Grand Slam winning trophies – Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open, four runners-up trophies because my father never lets me forget that I’ve lost 16 finals, and because it means so much to me, I am also sharing my Olympic medal (bronze in 1996) with the Hall of Fame,” said Paes, a Padma Bhushan recipient as well.
“Along with that there will be a tennis racquet from Wimbledon, a towel from my 2016 French Open win with Martina Hingis, my Davis Cup blazer and my Olympic tracksuit from 1996.”
The International Tennis Hall of Fame informed the 51-year-old Paes about his induction a few months ago which is a testament to his remarkable contributions to the sport throughout his acclaimed career.
“It is not easy to be inducted, there are only 274 people in the history of the sport in the International Tennis Hall of Fame. It is magical and Leander Paes is one of those icons,” said Dan Faber, CEO of the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
“Wimbledon is a tradition that brings us together, fills us with excitement and showcases the best of human grit and determination. Today, we honour a very special champion of the sport,” added Mehrnavaz Avari, UK Director of the Taj St. James’ Court.
(With PTI inputs)
Leander Paes announced that he will be showcasing his Grand Slam trophies and his Olympic medal at the Tennis Hall of Fame along with Vijay Amritraj who will be showcasing his Padma Shri which he received in 1983. Tennis Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
