Picture : Twitter / ANI
Indian tennis legend Leander Paes, who took a plunge into politics during a recent TMC rally in Goa, said that he wanted to create a difference in society by thwarting all attempts to divide it on religious and racial lines. Having proved his mettle in tennis courts, Paes is now looking at championing the cause of common people.
In an interview to PTI, he said, “Thirty years ago, I had started out as a tennis player. Then and now, my goal to serve the country remains the same, just that the vehicle or the medium has changed.”
The tennis star hailed TMC supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as a “born leader”, who can achieve anything she sets her mind to.
I live in Goa. I Was born in Bengal, I’ve travelled the length and breadth of the nation. At the end of the day I am a patriotic Indian. For me it’s about doing India proud & to make a difference and give back to my roots. @MamataOfficial Didi’s vision is to make India, (1/2) pic.twitter.com/JpQ7TvlQ0N
— Leander Paes OLY (@Leander) October 29, 2021
“Back in 2014, I had said that I would like to join politics. From a very young age, I always wanted to serve our country, to make India proud. And now is the right moment (to join politics) as I have already spent 30 years of my life representing India as a sportsperson on global platforms,” he said.
The athlete-turned-politician thanked Banerjee for giving him this opportunity. “Now I have the time, passion and energy to focus on my journey in politics. It is my long association with Mamata didi that gives me this feeling of comfort to start a new chapter,” he stated.
