Mumbai: Tennis ace Leander Paes on Thursday said
Russia would be a tough opponent in next month's Davis Cup
World Group tie but India are capable of defeating any side in
the world in the prestigious team competition.
"The Russians have got a very good team, besides a home
advantage. They are very tough. They have got players like
Nikolay Davydenko, who recently defeated Roger Federer,
Mikhail Youzhny and Marat Safin, he's retired don't know
whether he'll be playing. Winning the doubles against them
would be a challenge," Paes told reporters here.
"But in Davis Cup, we don't worry about rankings. We have
got a developing team. We have created many upsets in the
past. There is no reason why we can't create an upset this
time around," said the eleven-time Grand Slam winner.
Paes was also not worried about the future of men's
tennis in India.
"I feel that men's tennis in India is on the way up. The
fact that we qualified for the World Group, the top 16 of the
World is a tough task."
India travel to Russia to play their first round in the
Davis Cup World Group from March 5-7.
Paes, who today formally joined as one of the Board of
Directors of of Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ), floated by badminton
ace Prakash Padukone and billiards champion Geet Sethi, said
he was happy for the upcoming players like Yuki Bhambri and
Somdev Devvarman.
"I am very happy for Yuki Bhambri. He not only won the
Australian Junior Open but was also a junior number one for a
long time which is not a very easy thing to do at any level.
I also believe that India's Davis Cup mantle rests with
Somdev," Paes said.
On his responsibility as the Board of Director of Olympic
Gold Quest (OGQ), Paes said, "I will try to employ the
knowledge I have gained travelling through the world, that's
one challenge."
Asked whether his career would have been any different
had he received support from an organisation like the Olympic
Gold Quest, he said, "In 1992 I had to sleep in a locker room
in Wolfsburg, Germany as I had only USD 110 in my pocket.
That's your answer."
On the occasion, Padukone said, "Leander wears the
tricolour on his sleeve and he never shies away from a
challenge. He has an immense wealth of experience and
expertise and he will be a great mentor for our athletes
representing the nation."
Eight-time Billiards World Champion, Sethi said,
"Leander's achievements will be of tremendous inspirational
value to all Olympic Gold Quest athletes. His presence and
popularity will certainly help to make Olympic Gold Quest into
a nation wide movement."
Badminton ace Saina Nehwal, Boxing World Champion M C
Mary Kom, and world record holder rifle shooter Gagan Narang
were also present on the occasion.
PTI
First Published: Thursday, February 11, 2010, 21:44