Former world number one in doubles Leander Paes and tennis broadcaster, actor and player Vijay Amritraj became the first Asians inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame on Saturday. India’s first inductees were joined by British tennis journalist and writer Richard Evans at enshrinement ceremonies at the Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island. Paes recounted his youth playing football and hockey before turning to tennis and eventually following his father, a hockey captain, as an Olympic medalist.
“It is my greatest honor to stand on this stage not just with these legends of the game, but with people who have inspired me every day of my life – not because you have only won Grand Slams, not because you have shaped our sport. but each of these people shaped the world we live in,” said Paes.
“I would like to thank you very much for giving hope to this Indian boy.”
Amritraj, 70, played from 1970 until he retired in 1993, winning 15 ATP singles titles and 399 matches and being ranked 18th in the world and helped India reach the Davis Cup finals in 1974 and 1987.
“I am humbled and humbled to join this incredible and exclusive group that has brought glory to our sport,” said Amritraj.
After playing, Amritraj helped humanitarian causes, supported ATP and WTA events in India, and acted in the James Bond and Star Trek film series.
“A feeling came over me that I had never experienced,” Amritraj said upon learning of his election to the Hall. “This was an honor not only for me, for my family, for my parents, but for all my fellow Indians and my country living across the world.”
Like Amritraj, Evans was nominated in the contributor category for his lifetime impact on the sport.
Paes, 51, is an 18-time Grand Slam doubles and mixed doubles champion and was selected in the player category after honing his craft at the Amritraj youth academy.
‘Inspire the world’
Paes and Amritraj made India the 28th nation represented in the Hall of Fame.
“Playing for 1.4 billion people can be pressure or a wind in your wings,” said Paes.
“I would like to thank each and every one of my compatriots who supported me, who stood by all the ups and downs, and we have been through some, but you all were the inspiration, the support, you were even the strength to guide me when I didn’t even believe it.”
Paes has won career Grand Slams in both men’s and mixed doubles, completing one in men’s doubles by winning the 2012 Australian Open and another in mixed doubles by winning the 2016 French Open.
He won the bronze medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics by defeating Brazilian Fernando Meligeni 3-6, 6-2, 6-4.
His only ATP singles title came in 1998, on the grass of Newport, in the same place where he was inaugurated.
“As my father always told me, if you believe in yourself, work hard, you will be passionate about not only winning cash prizes and trophies, but you will also do it to inspire the world,” Paes said.
“It was a great honor to play for my countrymen in seven Olympics, to be where the national anthem is playing in all those Davis Cups and to prove that we Asians can win Grand Slams and also be number one in our field, whether it’s tennis or something like.”
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Topics mentioned in this article
This story originally appeared on ndtv.com read the full story
