Tennis: Indian greats Leander Paes and Vijay Amritraj inducted into sport’s Hall of Fame

Former doubles world No 1 Leander Paes and tennis broadcaster, actor and former player Vijay Amritraj became the first Asian men inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame on Saturday.

The first inductees from India were joined by British tennis journalist and author Richard Evans in enshrinement ceremonies at the Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island.

Paes recounted his youth playing football and hockey before turning to tennis and eventually following Olympic medalist father Vece Paes, who was a part of the Indian hockey team that won bronze in the 1972 Olympics in Munich.

“It’s my greatest honor to be on this stage with not only these legends of the game, people who have inspired me every single day of my life – not because you’ve only won Grand Slams, not because you’ve shaped our sport but every single one of these people have shaped the world we live in,” Paes said.

“I would like to thank you so much for giving this Indian boy hope.”

Leander Paes shares some inspiring words as he is inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame ???? ????

Watch his full speech here ???? https://t.co/L8mA5vLzib pic.twitter.com/clYpGulIiE— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) July 21, 2024

Amritraj, 70, played from 1970 until retiring in 1993, winning 15 ATP singles titles...

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