Tokoyo 2020: Leander Paes fears he won’t be able to get his final wish

Veteran India tennis player, Leander Paes has organizers of the Tokyo 2020 may not be able to pull off hosting the games, which might affect the legacy he wants to create.

Paes’ dream is to play in his eighth successive Olympics before hanging up his racquet. The legendary player has, therefore, said he would be unleashing his ‘new version’ when the sport resumes.

COVID-19 had halted all sporting action in India. With gradual resumptions, things are getting back to normal, with health guidelines being adhered to. This is to avoid further spread of the dreaded virus.

The 47-year-old had announced that 2020 would be his last season, with the hope of rounding off his activities with Tokyo Games, only to be stopped by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking during a webinar hosted by the Indian Chamber of Commerce – Young Leaders Forum, Paes expressed real concern about the Olympics, saying it is relevant to his history and legacy.

He is wondering how the corporate sponsors, who have been affected by COVID-19 in the economic sense, still stand their ground to support the tournament. Paes further noted that the future looks gloomy for the Olympics, without a vaccine to fight the deadly virus.

It had been said that the tournament might go ahead behind closed doors, as that is what obtains, for now, to avoid social gatherings.

Paes, therefore, wondered how the Japanese sporting governance would be to conduct such a tournament that could be held behind closed doors.

Paes, who is the most successful doubles player in the history of Davis Cup with 44 wins, noted that sport is big business, but doubt if sponsors will be able to bear the athlete’s cost with no return from ticket sales.

Paes, who also noted that he had his hands insured for millions, said he had used the COVID-19 enforced lockdown to further re-invent himself. He said the period was a blessing to him as he had time to read and spend with his father.with the hope of rounding off his activities with Tokyo Games, only to be stopped by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking during a webinar hosted by Indian Chamber of Commerce – Young Leaders Forum, Paes expressed real concern about the Olympics, saying it is relevant to his history and legacy.

He is wondering how the corporate sponsors, who have been affected by COVID-19 in the economic sense still stand their ground to support the tournament. Paes further noted that  the future looks gloomy for the Olympics, without vaccine to fight the deadly virus.

It had been muted that the tournament might go ahead behind closed doors as that is what obtains for now, in order to avoid social gatherings.

Paes therefore wondered how the Japanese sporting governance will be to conduct such tournament that could held behind closed doors.

Paes, who is the most successful doubles player in the history of Davis Cup with 44 wins, noted that sport is a big business, but doubt if sponsors will be able to bear the cost of athelete with no return from ticket sales.

Paes who also noted that he had his hands insured millions said he had used the COVID-19 enforced lockdown to further re-invent himself. He said the period was a blessing to him as he had time to read, and spend with his father.

Written by: Oladipupo Mojeed