Whenever Indian tennis is mentioned, a name rings louder than rest, that of multi-time Champion Leander Paes. He has officially become the Bengal Tennis President.
The man who elevated the doubles partnership into an art form and gave an immensely optimistic attitude of never-say-die is now wearing an administrative hat.
Bengal Tennis President, New Chapter for Paes
Champion Paes is going back to his roots as a leader after decades of playing in the crowd at Wimbledon, Roland Garros, and Davis Cup ties.
Recently, the Bengal Tennis Association (BTA) conducted its Annual General Meeting in which he officially replaced Hironmoy Chatterjee as the Bengal Tennis president. Interestingly, he was unanimously nominated to the position last month, which shows the amount of trust the tennis community places in him.
To put it into perspective, Paes is an Indian Tennis legend. He is an 18-time Grand Slam winner, 8 in men’s doubles and 10 in mixed doubles and is the oldest of all players to win a major at the age of 42.
And now that he is Bengal Tennis President, his mission is obvious: to make Bengal the hotbed of Indian tennis development.
Leander Paes’s Vision Ahead- Grassroots First
Grand Slam winner Leander Paes, in his inaugural speech as president, explained that he is prepared to work hard to meet the expectations that are vested in him.
“I know there will be fingers pointed at me in this new role… I plan to work hard, to listen, and to build a stronger tennis culture.”
Under the new Bengal Tennis president’s, BTA will host two international tournaments in 2026 in Kolkata:
- ITF Junior
- 30,000 Men tournament
A stepping stone for young Indian players to gain recognition in the world. Now, as the Bengal Tennis president, Paes highlighted his interest in youngsters’ preparation, the best facilities development, and talent hunt.
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Moreover, Paes doesn’t lack experience in leadership since he captained India in Davis Cup, won 750+ matches, and competed in seven straight Olympics representing the country, the highest ever by an Indian athlete.
The best thing about the appointment of Paes as Bengal Tennis president is that he has global experience and has strategic thinking. He has played and competed in systems such as the ATP Tour, whereby talent and infrastructure development is well organized.
Conclusion: Bengal Tennis in a New Era
The election of Leander Paes as BTA President is an indication of a bright new dawn. His decades of working abroad, strong ties to Kolkata, and his unwavering commitment mean that he has all it takes to take the tennis scene of Bengal to the next level.
He is now in the position to produce the next generation of champions, just as 18 time Grand Slam Champion Leander Paes used to make India proud in the international court, by showing that legends do not retire; they just know how to win.
Bigyan Samele’s Take :
I have enjoyed watching Leander Paes play, his dives across the courts with intense passion. Now he starts a new chapter, from representing India in tennis to shaping the future of Indian tennis. Him becoming the Bengal Tennis President to me is more than an administrative headline; it is a complete circle tale and one I am all keen on looking forward to. Want more tennis updates? Check out JeetWin Sports | Cricket, Football, IPL & Live Score Updates
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