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Leander Paes is a rarity in Indian sports arena for his amazing achievements and the never-say-die attitude that he brings to his game. Born on June 17, 1973, Paes has scripted many a memorable triumphs both at the Davis Cup and in Grand Slam tournaments.
Leander shot into limelight when he won the 1990 Wimbledon Junior title and rose to No.1 in the junior world-rankings. Even though he couldn't make much of an impact as a singles player, Leander teamed up with compatriot Mahesh Bhupathi to form a formidable doubles pair. The year 1999 proved to be a watershed for the duo as they entered the finals of all the four Grand Slam events, eventually winning the Wimbledon and the French Open.
But the watermark of Leander's prodigious career would be the bronze medal in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Unfazed by the presence of a horde of ATP bigshots, Leander raised his game by a few notches to fetch India an individual Olympic medal after a hiatus of 44 years.
Notwithstanding his success at the ATP circuit, it is Leander's heroics at the Davis Cup that has endeared him to millions of Indian fans. On umpteen occasions he has managed to get the better of fancied opponents to keep the Indian tricolor flying high.
