Leander Paes

Leander Adrian Paes (born June 17, 1973) is currently one of the most successful players of the tennis Men's Doubles and Mixed Doubles circuits.

Related Topics:
June 17 - 1973 - Tennis - Doubles - Mixed

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Leander Paes was born in Goa and brought up in Kolkata (then Calcutta). His mother, Jennifer Paes was a renowned basketball player and captain of the Indian team in the 1980 Asian Basketball Championships. His father, Vece Paes, was a hockey midfielder representing the Indian team in the 1972 Munich Olympics that won the bronze medal.

Related Topics:
Goa - Kolkata - Calcutta - Jennifer Paes - Basketball - Vece Paes - Hockey - Midfielder - 1972 Munich Olympics

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He joined the Britannia Tennis Academy in Madras (now known as Chennai) in 1985 where he was coached by Dave O'Meara. Leander shot into international fame when he won the 1990 Wimbledon Junior title and rose to No.1 in the junior world-rankings.

Related Topics:
Chennai - Wimbledon

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He turned professional in 1991 and in 1996 won a bronze medal at the Atlanta Olympics becoming the first Indian in more than 4 decades to win a individual medal. The previous individual medalist for India was K.D. Jadhav who won a bronze in 1952.

Related Topics:
1996 - Atlanta Olympics - K.D. Jadhav - 1952

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Specialising in Doubles, he was ranked number 1 along with Mahesh Bhupathi.

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He was a joint winner of India's highest sporting honour, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award in the year 1996-1997 along with Nameirakpam Kunjarani.

Related Topics:
India - Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna - 1996 - 1997 - Nameirakpam Kunjarani

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