Leander Paes joins TMC: Paes partners Mamata Banerjee – India’s arguably the greatest doubles player Leander Paes has begun his life off a tennis court joining Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress. Paes, who called it quits after 29 years of career on the tennis court, was unveiled as the newest member of TMC in Goa.
Leander Paes is expected to be a TMC candidate in Goa which is going to poll in 2022. West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee called Leander ‘like his brother’ and welcomed him to the party.
Warmly welcoming legendary sportsperson @Leander who joined us today in the presence of our Hon’ble Chairperson @MamataOfficial!#GoenchiNaviSakal https://t.co/o05ddcH0Qb pic.twitter.com/PRgqvVhp1R
— AITC Goa (@AITC4Goa) October 29, 2021
Leander Paes joins TMC: Leander Paes begins new chapter after retirement, joins Mamata Banerjee’s TMC in Goa
“Happy to inform that Leander Paes has joined TMC. I am too happy. He is my younger brother. I know him since I was the youth minister and he was very very young,” Banerjee said.
Regarded as one of the best doubles player, the Olympics bronze medallist and owner of 18 Grand Slam titles in doubles and mixed doubles, Leander Paes left his illustrious career behind in 2020. Partnering with Mahesh Bhupathi, he had the Davis Cup record of winning most consecutive doubles ties. Later, he went on to create a world record of most doubles wins in Davis Cup.
Calcutta boy Leander Paes gets a warm welcome by TMC chief pic.twitter.com/4o0fxX7Vi9
— Vasudha Venugopal (@vasudha_ET) October 29, 2021
Leander Paes joins TMC: Leander Paes begins new chapter after retirement, joins Mamata Banerjee’s TMC in Goa
He received the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, India’s highest sporting honour, in 1996-97, the Arjuna Award in 1990, the Padma Shri award in 2001 and India’s third-highest civilian award, the Padma Bhushan prize in January 2014, for his outstanding contribution to tennis. Paes competed in consecutive Olympics from 1992 to 2016, making him the first Indian and only tennis player to compete at seven Olympic Games.
Paes said Banerjee was very encouraging when she was sports minister and is grateful to join the party and said he wants to make a difference to the country.
“I am very grateful for this opportunity from Didi. The vehicle that I chose for the last 30 years to do our people proud was Tennis. Now that I have retired from Tennis, the vehicle has changed. I would like to make a difference to the youth,” Paes said.
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