Swapping diving volleys for a political pitch, Indian tennis great Leander Paes on Tuesday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), signalling the start of a new chapter after a career that defined Indian tennis across generations. Interestingly, Paes had joined Mamata Banerjee's party in 2021 and campaigned for it during the Goa elections in 2022. ADVERTISEMENTFor over three decades, Paes was the face of Indian tennis. Over the course of his career, Paes amassed 18 Grand Slam titles - eight in men’s doubles and 10 in mixed doubles -- completing a career Grand Slam in mixed doubles. His partnership with Mahesh Bhupathi -- popularly dubbed the 'Indian Express' -- brought India global recognition in doubles tennis, including multiple Grand Slam titles and ATP successes.

Source: The Telegraph March 31, 2026 07:30 UTC