Leander Paes and Vijay Amritraj on Wednesday made history by becoming the first Asian men to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
Paes was inducted in the player category for his 18 Grand Slam doubles and mixed doubles titles, while Amritraj from India and Richard Evans from United Kingdom were inducted in the contributor category. The contributor segment, which is held biennially, honours individuals or teams who have had a significant impact on the game of tennis.
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The class of 2024 will be inducted into the university’s Hall of Fame on Saturday in Newport, Rhode Island.
With Paes and Amritraj’s additions, India is set to become the 28th country to have a member in the esteemed Hall of Fame. Currently, there are 264 members in the Hall, representing 27 countries.
“It has been my life’s honour to play for my country for over three decades in a sport that has given and taught me everything. This acknowledgment is indeed the ultimate accolade for every tennis player. Induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame belongs not just to me, but to our billion-plus Indians,” Paes was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
“Receiving this honour culminates a professional journey of a lifetime, standing on the shoulders of greats and sets the tone for other youngsters in Asia and around the world.”
In a career spanning 30 years, Paes has reached the top of the doubles rankings and won 18 Grand Slam titles. He has won 8 doubles Grand Slams and 10 mixed doubles Grand Slams, making him one of the few players to have won a career Grand Slam in both of these disciplines.
