Having long put away his racket, Leander Paes may have stepped off the professional court, but his love for tennis clearly endures. The Indian tennis legend has now taken on a new challenge as the President of the Bengal Tennis Association (BTA). The appointment was made official during the organisation’s annual general meeting on Saturday, where the outgoing president Hiranmoy Chatterjee formally handed over the reins to Paes.
Speaking about his new role, Paes expressed humility and enthusiasm in equal measure.
“Sports administration is a completely new chapter for me,” he said. “I want to work with the mindset of a student. Just as I made my first serve in tennis, this will be my first serve in administration. I feel like a student once again—this is a fresh experience for me.”
Paes also revealed his broader vision for tennis in Bengal, emphasising grassroots development beyond the city.
“I don’t want tennis to be limited to Kolkata. My aim is to take the sport to every district, to nurture local talent and make tennis more accessible,” he added.
Meanwhile, Ketan Sheth, who previously served as treasurer of the association, has been appointed as the new secretary.
Leander Paes remains one of India’s most decorated and influential sporting icons. His career achievements include an astonishing 18 Grand Slam titles across men’s and mixed doubles, a record-breaking presence in the Davis Cup with the highest number of matches played and won for India, and participation in seven Olympic Games, where he also clinched a bronze medal. His illustrious legacy was further cemented with induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
With such a distinguished champion now steering Bengal’s tennis affairs, fans are hopeful that the sport will experience a revival under his leadership. Paes’s entry into sports administration may well serve as the beginning of a new chapter for tennis in the region—one that inspires both aspiring players and long-time enthusiasts alike.