Proud moment for India!
Leander Paes has received the Olympic certificate for representing India in seven consecutive Games and is the only tennis player in the whole world to do so. On Twitter, the 47 year-old announced this news while posting a picture of himself, holding the prestigious honour.
Delighted to receive my #OlyCertificate in recognition of representing our nation in 7 consecutive @Olympics! #FlyingMan
pic.twitter.com/4f22nuNP7e — Leander Paes OLY (@Leander) November 17, 2020
The Indian tennis legend first took part in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics with Ramesh Krishnan and reached quarterfinals of the men’s doubles event. In the 1996 Atlanta Games, he won a bronze in the individual events. At the Sydney Games, he was given the honor of carrying the Indian flag in the opening ceremony.
Along with Mahesh Bhupathi, the 18-time doubles Grand Slam champion lost at the men’s doubles semifinals as well as the bronze medal playoff in the 2004 Athens Olympics. Once again, Paes and Bhupathi reached the quarterfinals at the Beijing Games in 2008. For the 2012 London and 2016 Rio Games, Leander partnered Vishnu Vardhan and Rohan Bopanna respectively.
What a journey it’s been, indeed!
