NEWS
OTHER SPORTS
DIARY
PEOPLE
MATCH REPORTS
SLIDE SHOW
ARCHIVES

Next stop, the Olympic gold

''Mahesh (Bhupathi) and I started in 1994 at a tournament in Jakarta," recalled Leander Paes. "That was the time I thought we could make it together.''

The pair went on to top the world rankings, and this year, had a dream run entering the finals of all four Grand Slams and winning two -- French Open and Wimbledon. "Winning the Slams, being number one in the world, it all feels special to do it with Mahesh, because it was so Indian. I would rather do it with an Indian than with anyone else, and with Mahesh, we share so much together."

Putting at rest rumours that the pair could split up at the end of the year, Paes said: "We are definitely together. There is no need to worry that we will pair with somebody else. We will play doubles together this year and also next year.''

The duo said that their success on the professional circuit had made them think in terms of doing something for the country. "For one thing, we would like to win a gold medal for the country at the Sydney Olympics,'' said Paes.

''Although Olympics is a long time from now, we need to plan a strategy for it," Paes said. "At a personal level, I feel good that I have won a bronze medal for the country. This time we are aiming for a gold,'' he said.

''However, I feel it will not be a cakewalk for us. We have to plan and work according to a schedule,'' Paes said.

Added Mahesh, ''Olympics is a long time from now. Before that, we have other tournaments which need our concentration.''

Speaking about their record performance, reaching the finals of all the four Slams, Paes said, ''It was one of the goals we had set for this year, the other being finishing the year as top seeds.''

However, he added, ''This is just a beginning. With the capabilities we have, we can do more.''

About the response the duo receive from Indian fans, Paes said, ''Our countrymen have responded superbly, the kind of response I had received after winning the bronze medal at the Olympics was different than what we have received now. This time, it seems to be a response to a collective effort from the two of us, and it feels good."

Asked about the differences the pair had in the past, Paes said, ''Well, it was unfortunate. Playing against each other was really unfortunate. But now we intend to continue together. It was basically due to a lack of communication, but I think that now, that is past.''

Asked about the differences the pair had with the selection of the Davis Cup captain, Paes said, "I don't get involved in these things. It is a thing which we have to decide after sitting together, all of us, when the time for that comes in February."

Asked if their recent success has helped popularise the game and rope in more sponsors, Paes said, ''Well, certainly our success has helped the game a lot. We are like ambassadors of tennis in India and the world over.''

however, he added, as a whole there was not much of sponsorship support in the sport. ''I admit tennis is an expensive sport and not always affordable by the masses. Even with us, sponsors have started coming only within the last two or three years.

''So getting sponsors is not easy. But one should keep working hard at a personal level,'' he said.

Talking about the new crop of players coming up on the Indian circuit, Bhupathi said, ''There is no shortfall of talent in the country.''

However, the duo added, ''There is going to be a gap before a new crop is added to the present one.''

Asked whether the success in doubles has taken a toll in their singles ranking Paes, who has seen his individual ranking dipping in the last few months, said, ''Last year we had set a goal for ourselves as a doubles team -- to win a Grand Slam and finish the year as number one.

''We have achieved that goal remarkably this year. It is like a give and take relationship,'' he said, hinting that the success in doubles has taken a toll in the singles. "Now, we will concentrate on our singles as well, set ourselves some goals there too."

In response to a question, Paes said, "Yes, certainly our success has taken a toll of our personal and social life, right now we are playing 42 weeks of tennis a year. So, obviously, we don't get time for other activities.''

Talking of plans after he was through with full time tennis, Paes said, ''I plan to give the country back something, in my own way. I am also planning my post-retirement lifestyle to make it an easy transition,'' Paes added.