Leander Paes Reveals Key Mantra for Athletic Success amid Daily Stress

In an exclusive interview, former Indian tennis star Leander Paes shares insights on achieving success through self-belief, mental health, and hard work. He emphasizes the importance of happiness and equal opportunities in sports, while also discussing the future of Indian tennis and his role in popularizing the game.

By Parv Anand. Former India tennis player Leander Paes has revealed a key mantra that he believes can help athletes achieve success amidst the various levels of daily stress.

Throughout his illustrious career spanning decades, Paes achieved global success and inspired the next generation. In an exclusive conversation with ANI, Paes highlighted self-belief, mental health, and hard work as the cornerstones of a successful career.

'In any sport or walk of life, self-belief, mental peace, happiness, and hard work are guarantees for a successful career,' Paes told ANI. He emphasized that bringing happiness to others is crucial.

'Today, I see many young children experiencing significant mental health stress from board exams, traffic, relationships, peer pressure, and social media,' he remarked. 'Wherever I travel, I find that bringing happiness to people is very important.'

After retiring in 2020, Paes passed the baton to players like Sumit Nagal and Rohan Bopanna. 'When you see Sumit and Rohan holding the flag high, it's wonderful. It's exciting to see how they perform in the upcoming Paris Olympics,' Paes said, highlighting the significance of playing for the nation.

'Playing for the country in the Olympics, Asian Games, and Davis Cup has always been vital to me. I look forward to seeing our athletes' performances on these big platforms,' he added.

The 51-year-old is associated with the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) and its efforts to grow the game in India. 'Tennis was a pioneer in equal prize money, scholarships, and educational opportunities. This has been crucial in promoting the sport and giving young athletes a chance,' Paes noted.

He added, 'Wimbledon and the AELTC are focused on increasing participation and viewership in tennis, particularly in India. From 2003 to 2022, viewership increased by 96%. Having been part of the tennis world for 40 years, promoting the game has been one of my key responsibilities.'

(With inputs from agencies.)