So, Leander Paes has finally put an end to the ongoing Indian tennis row by agreeing to partner Vishnu Vardhan. But that does not end the agony the sport in the country is going through. Paes, who has made the ‘sacrifice’ and ‘agreed’ to mentor a player ranked much lower than him, is not concerned about his partner’s inexperience but is more worried about whether Vishnu has the proper shoes to play on grass.
So has Paes taken it upon himself to find suitable playing shoes for his partner? If so, it is inspiring indeed! That should help Vishnu a lot before the Olympics. A youngster who has idolised Leander Paes since he started playing tennis must have got a big boost from hearing such words from his illustrious senior and would now be ready to set the Olympics ablaze with his skills.
On a serious note, the comment was derogatory, coming from someone of Paes’s stature who is idolised by many in the country. It was highly unexpected and very humiliating for a player who had got a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to team up with his idol at the grandest event of all, the Olympics.
The effect on young players
The bigger question now is what effect it will have on Vishnu, or for that matter on any upcoming player. Vishnu has refrained from commenting and has maintained that he is happy Paes has agreed to partner him.
On the one hand, Paes said he would not kill Vishnu’s dream of playing at the Olympics, which made him look like a real hero; on the other, he said something disgraceful about ‘grass court shoes’. Even though Vishnu is tight-lipped about the whole incident, going by human nature he must have been deeply hurt, and it will be worth watching how they gel as a team at the Olympics.
How will Paes even look him in the eye after saying that, and how will Vishnu put everything aside and concentrate on the mega event? These are big questions. Paes has been the ambassador of Indian tennis and is an Olympic medallist, and a hurtful comment like this from a person of such high repute sets a bad precedent.
Forget Vishnu, as he is already part of something big now and will hopefully be able to put all this behind him and concentrate on his game at the forthcoming Olympics. But what about the other players in the fray? After this incident, will they want to pair up with their illustrious seniors, knowing that the seniors do not think twice before saying something disgraceful? The juniors would certainly feel intimidated and might think twice before playing with them. Paes has not only spoiled his image in front of his juniors but has also instilled a fear psychosis among them.
Upcoming players, who once idolised these tennis stars and were inspired to pick up the racquet after watching them bring glory to the nation, may be driven away from the game after the Indian tennis row of the last 15 days and the demoralising and insulting comments from their seniors. Paes should have shown more responsibility and, as the best player in the country, should have set a better example.
By Samikshan Dutta Choudhury
Indian Sports News
