Leander Paes (born 1973) is one of India's greatest and most decorated tennis players, known for his exceptional career in doubles and mixed doubles. Born in Kolkata, West Bengal, into a sports-oriented family—his father, Vece Paes, was an Olympic hockey player—Leander showed early promise in tennis and rose to international fame with his fighting spirit, agility, and sharp net play.
Paes won 18 Grand Slam titles in his career—8 in men’s doubles and 10 in mixed doubles—partnering with legends like Mahesh Bhupathi, Martina Navratilova, and Martina Hingis. He achieved a historic milestone by winning an Olympic bronze medal in singles at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, becoming the first Indian to win an individual Olympic medal in over four decades.
Renowned for his longevity, Paes represented India in seven consecutive Olympic Games (1992 to 2016)—a world record in tennis. His contribution to Indian tennis, particularly in Davis Cup, is immense, where he holds several national and international records. Awarded the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Padma Shri, and Padma Bhushan, Leander Paes remains a sporting icon who inspired generations of Indian athletes with his perseverance, passion, and pride in representing India on the global stage.