New Delhi, Jan 22 (UNI) Former tennis great Leander Paes feels that India being chosen as the host of the 2030 Commonwealth Games and vying to host the 2036 Summer Olympics are very significant developments.
Addressing the media at the ‘Golf Growth Initiative’ event held on Thursday at the Delhi Golf Club, he said that hosting big international events raises a country’s profile and also boosts its GDP
“Sports can raise the country’s stature in the global arena. We won the Commonwealth Games’ bid and are now trying to get the Olympics. This is very significant. Be it US, UK, China, Greece, the country’s GDP has always gone up when they hosted the Olympics.”
‘Golf Growth Initiative’ is a joint programme of the Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL), Indian Golf union (IGU), the Professional Golfers’ Association of India (PGAI), and The Golf Foundation (TGF) to build the next generation of Indian golfers. Paes is partnering the initiative.
Paes, who represented India in as many as seven Olympics, was of the opinion that India needs to focus in the rural areas to develop world beaters. He stressed on the need to employ sports science in the process.
“I believe that if we go to the rural areas of India and take our scouting ability there, to test the talent there, do genetic testing, do physical testing, bone density and muscle density testing, do their mental health testing, in order to give the talent there that doesn’t have the opportunity to come to metro cities to get membership of the sports clubs that are expensive — that will make a big difference. And we will be able to produce a lot of world class talent,” he said.
Paes, a winner of 18 Grand Slams, praised the Khelo India games and Target Olympics Podium Scheame for boosting India’s medal haul at international events.
“Government initiatives like Khelo India and TOPS (Target Olympics Podium Scheme) are very good programmes. The motivation that they give to the athletes, the financial support, the rehabilitation support, is all very good. The seven medals that we won in Tokyo were all because of the government support. I believe in the Paris Olympics we would have doubled the amount of medals but the racers and shooters got a little unlucky.”
He said that India should not get discouraged by minor setbacks like the Yonex Sunrise India Open 2026 “badminton mismanagement” episode. “As a developing nation, we are also developing in sport, and I think patience is required. Excellence is not about being perfect on the first day; excellence is about learning to lose gracefully. Excellence is also about being able to manage pain, failure and standing up every time. Stay true to the path, winning and success is a journey.”
Yonex – Sunrise India Open 2026, which concluded on January 18 attracted a lot of scrutiny as the organisation was found to be lackadaisical. The matches were interrupted by pigeon droppings, a monkey was seen on the spectator stands and some players like Singaporean shuttler Loh Kean Yew and Denmark’s Mia Blichfeldt criticised the conditions.
