We should take the opportunity to Greet Leander and not to discuss his acheivement. I personally feel Bharat Ratna should be awarded to person who has changed lives of many Indians not for sport acheivment. Let us preserve Bharat Ratna for a person who has contributed to touch the lives of many Indians. Dr.Kurian who has changed the lives of millions of Farmers deserves Bharat Ratna. We should have given this great person the award when he was alive, but alas we have let the chance go. Lets remember this Great Person before any other sporots person who earn a lot for ther victories. But this man gave everything and changed India.
Those lucky ones seen him in 1996 Olympic, will never ever forget the moments - forget his loss against Agassi or forget his first Olympic Individual medal winning for Independent India. Only Kapils' 175 against Zimbawe comes second to that even though the cricket even tose days were played seriously by handful (now it is eing played by the D gang)
In today's world everyone looks to an icon. For Indian youth there can't be anyone better than Leander Paes. If anyone is to be given a Bharat Rathna in Sports and Games it should be Leander Paes. He defies every logic of age. What a cool resolute mind! Great!
Hats off to the spirit, fitness and determination of Leander. He is India's brightest sportsperson and continues to light up the global tennis scene as a shining Indian superstar. Thanks also to Mahesh for what both of them have given to Indian tennis. While it is not fair to compare him with the Krishnans and Amritrajs, who were stellar players of their time and played some memorable five-setters for the country, this is not a Kolkata versus Chennai debate. Remember, Paes hails from Kolkata while (he) is settled in Chennai. All parochial parrots, learn to appreciate his feats as an Indian, and to think and see beyond cricket. No wonder Hockey being the national sport, is in international ignominy :-( :-( :-(
Re: has spirit.
by somiran malakar on Sep 09, 2013 11:39 PM
He has deserve that by his virtue not by your senseless talk. hE HAS EARNED THAT EGO, but you do not have anything to judge him. So please keep you mouth close.
Re: Hopefully, Leander will inspire Tendulkar..
by akpin on Sep 09, 2013 07:44 PM
unfortunately all we Indians end our discussions with cricket and Tendulkar.
Re: Re: Hopefully, Leander will inspire Tendulkar..
by Jaguar on Sep 10, 2013 02:20 AM
yes.. thats the only sport we Indians play..don;t you know that ? :-)
In my opinion Paes is the all time greatest sportsperson of India. In chess championship last time champion should defend his crown by playing only one opponent. Cricket is not a very popular in worldwide, there are only 10 major countries. Paes have won total 53 doubles titles including 14 GS. Olympic bronze, Asian games gold, career slam in open era tennis, best singles ranking 73 and no. 1 in doubles where players from almost all countries are there in a tight schedule and tough competition. He has a interesting Devis cup career also where he beat big names like Boetsch, Laconte, Ferriera, Ivanisevic and climbed upto Devis cup semifinal in 1993. He also beat world no.-1 Sampras in singles. He has a ATP singles title also. Paes became only the second man (after Rod Laver) to win Wimbledon titles in three different decades. No other sportsperson of India has so many titles or achievement. So why Sachin or Anand ?
Re: Why not Bharat Ratna
by abc_xyz abc_xyz on Sep 09, 2013 06:21 PM
Excuse me. While winning doubles grand slam is hardest, reaching the Semis of the Singles in Grand Slam is hardest of the hardest. And Only one Indian (and probably will remain as one) did that feat. He goes by the name Ramanathan Krishan, who reached the SF of Wimbledon in both 1960 and 1961, lead Davis Cup team to Finals in 1960 and was ranked career high of Singles - 3. Now tell me who is greater?
Apart from him, we have had his son Ramesh Krishnan and Vijay Amritraj (both QFs in Wimbledon and US Opens) and Sania Mirza who was once Ranked 27 in Singles.
Re: Re: Why not Bharat Ratna
by Santanu Banerjee on Sep 10, 2013 10:36 AM
Ultimately at end of the day achievements prove the quality, performance and eligibility. Ramanathan had no tennis titles even in old era (before 1968), Devis cup record 69-28( Paes has 86-31) ,in old amateur era it was not the hardest and Ramesh had only 9 but no GS, Amritraj had 16 but no G.S. Where Paes have total 54 doubles titles and 1 singles including 14 GS. If you compare these truly from your heart leaving any cast/provincial feelings, your opinion must be other. Nobody recalls a semifinalist. Have you ever heard the name of Pam Shriver? She won total 133 ATP titles but never a G.S. There are so many names in tennis who have reached F, SF and QF of G.S but never won (Miloslav Mecir, Tommy Haas, Mark Phillipousis, Marcelo Rios, ETC). They have no name in tennis history or in WIKI, after 100 years everybody will forget them but one countryman can feel proud after 100 years from WIKI that Richard Sears won the U.S,Open in 1881. So, Ramanathan, Ramesh and Amritraj all were good players but not outstanding as compared to Paes. Only Bhupathi can be compared with Paes but never any other. Sania is nowhere in the picture. So in the sporting fraternity he will be on top probably after or before Dhayanchand as in Dhyanchands era hockey playing nation are very less and when other started we are at last position.
Re: Re: Re: Why not Bharat Ratna
by abc_xyz abc_xyz on Sep 10, 2013 07:17 PM
While apprecting Peas to the core, dont you realise that you are still comparing Singles with Doubles. No one starts to be a doubles champion (getting a suitable partner is another issue to deal with). Every aspiring plauer wants to make a mark in singles. And so did Paes. When he knew he wouldn't go beyond 70s in the ranking charts, he smatly shifted to doubles where he excelled. This is where he is a tad lower to the the krishnans and amritrajs who shined in the singles too. In tennis,winning GS SINGLES is the pinnacle of achievement and not just a GS title. Hope you woul:d agree with me. And where did cast/provincial feelings come into picture? Probably you being a bengali have shown more of these while supporting another bengali :)
yes, No one remembers QFs, SFs or Fs, but at the same time, no one remembers doubles's champion too. And how on earth you say Bhupathi is closer to Peas..common give me a break !! Saina is NOW nowhere in the picture. 7 years back, she was in the limelight for both -sporting achivements and otherwise.
Re: Re: Re: Re: Why not Bharat Ratna
by Santanu Banerjee on Sep 11, 2013 08:59 AM
First of all I have no cast /provincial feeling which were proved by including Bhupati’s name. As you are in disguise, frighten to write in real name and supporting only south Indian name so you must have some feelings. BTW are you also from Chennai? The entire name you like played doubles as well as singles. If they were so competent why they did not have any doubles GS title as you told playing doubles are easier than singles. It sounds like, if a no.-5 batsman scores a century against Zimbabwe but No.-1-4 were out for a duck, one like you may told that it was useless as it was against Zimbabwe. But why no.1-4 were failure against a week bowlers like Zimbabwe? In fact Vijay was more competent than Krishnans but he was responsible for his career, gave more attention in business and acting. Once ABC of tennis means A-Amritraj,B-Borg and C- Connors. But stats and achievements proves that Paes is much much better than them. If GS singles winning is pinnacle then show me how many singles GS were won by the three Madrasi names you like and the shinning stats of them? As far as partner issue Radek has only two GS title and Paes has 14, shows Paes is better than Radek. Bhupati is closer to Paes for his numbers of GS and ATP titles and not Sania. Anybody on earth can understand this. A true tennis lover definitely remember doubles champions and there name were boldly written in the WIKI and tennis history. I can also support Paes like you that Paes was more competent than Kri
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Why not Bharat Ratna
by Santanu Banerjee on Sep 11, 2013 09:00 AM
than Krishnans as he at least have one ATP singles title in modern era( Ramanathan has none) and beat players like Boetsch, Laconte, Ferriera, Ivanisevic and world no.-1 Sampras, bronze in Olympic. Now you can take a break.
Re: Why not Bharat Ratna
by Jaguar on Sep 09, 2013 06:25 PM
Just because you're a Bengali.. that doesn't mean that every other Bong will get a Bharat Ratna award.. Leander has achieved a lot and hats off to him but thats not enough to get a Bharat Ratna..
Re: Re: Why not Bharat Ratna
by bharat aggarwal on Sep 09, 2013 08:02 PM
So Jaguar.. you mean to say that Leander is only a great Bengali sportsperson.. and not a great Indian?
Re: Re: Why not Bharat Ratna
by A Singh on Sep 09, 2013 08:35 PM
wrong...Bengali or not...he has achievements that are many ways unparalleled in India...if any crickter can get Bharatranta, Paes deserves it many many times more..no doubt..look at the list mentioned on the post above..
Re: Re: Re: Why not Bharat Ratna
by abc_xyz abc_xyz on Sep 09, 2013 10:06 PM
also look at my earlier reply to know where he stands in the all-time great tennis players list. This is just for tennis. Take the entire sporting fraternity, he may not even figure in top15. So Appreciate him, salute his achivements, but dont over do it by calling him greatest sportsperson, bharat ratna candidature blah blah blah.
Re: Re: Re: Re: Why not Bharat Ratna
by Jaguar on Sep 10, 2013 02:23 AM
exactly.. you are right..that's what is my point as well. Indians have the tendendy of going ga-ga and melodramatic even on small achievements.. Leander has own two Grand slams with Bhuptati in 1999..
Re: Re: Re: Why not Bharat Ratna
by Jaguar on Sep 10, 2013 02:25 AM
I am not talking abt Cricketers here.. If anyone from Sports should get a Bharat Ratna then it got to be Dhyanchand.. winnging 3 Olympic Golds is not an ordinary achievement..
