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AITA to recommend Paes, Bhupathi for Padma awards

The All India Tennis Association will make a recommendation to the government that Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi be conferred with one of country's highest awards.

Paes and Bhupathi, the world No 1 tennis doubles pair, have won a string of tournaments together. They lifted the Wimbledon and French Open doubles titles recently. Paes also won the mixed doubles title at Wimbledon.

''It is for the first time in Indian tennis history that such glory has been brought (to the country). The AITA has, therefore, decided to recommend to the Government of India these two great Indians for the Padma awards," an association statement in New Delhi said.

Meanwhile, Gen. V P Malik, chief of the army staff, today thanked Leander Paes for dedicating his Wimbledon victory to the jawans of Kargil.

In a message, Gen. Malik complimented Paes, saying that he too was serving the motherland with his achievements in the French Open, Wimbledon and other tournaments, and wished him good luck for greater success in future.

UNI