Tag: Leander Paes

Pink Power Run paints Hyderabad in hope and health

MUMBAI: Hyderabad turned a rosy shade of resolve as the Pink Power Run 2025 swept through People’s Plaza, where thousands laced up not just for fitness but for the fight against breast cancer.

From Hindi cinema charm to global glamour, the line-up sparkled. Former Mr India and health ambassador Darasing Khurana hosted with gusto, joined by Miss World 2025 Opal Suchata Chuangsri, tennis ace Leander Paes and philanthropist Sudha Reddy. Together, they lent star power to a life-saving cause.

This year’s theme, stride and shine, captured the spirit perfectly. Families, fitness buffs and first-timers alike took to the track, sending a united message that early detection saves lives.

Khurana, long active in health advocacy, told the cheering crowd, “Every step we take today is a stride towards saving lives.” For him, the run was a natural extension of his work as an ambassador for Datri, India’s blood stem cell registry.

Chuangsri, accompanied by Miss World chairperson Julia Morley, praised the run as “a shining example of how community action can drive meaningful change,” highlighting her Beauty with a purpose mission on women’s health.

Breast cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer deaths among Indian women. Experts stress that awareness and screenings dramatically improve survival rates, and Pink Power Run 2025 made that message impossible to miss.

In the end, it was more than a race. It was a rallying cry, a community statement, and proof that when people stride together, they shine brighter.

October 3, 2025
Guru Samruddhi serves up GS Delhi Aces with Leander Paes as ambassador

MUMBAI: Guru Samruddhi House of Investments has stepped onto the sporting court with the acquisition of the GS Delhi Aces franchise in the Tennis Premier League (TPL). The announcement comes ahead of the league’s seventh edition, with tennis icon Leander Paes joining as brand ambassador.

The launch, held in Dubai on 10 September, was a historic first for TPL as the team unveiled itself on an international stage. The evening drew over 500 attendees, with Paes receiving a rousing welcome alongside blessings from Sadguru Shri Guruji. [sic]

18-time Grand Slam champion and Olympic medallist, Paes said, “I have been a part of TPL since its inception. This year is a special one for the league as it will become India’s fourth sporting league to complete seven successful seasons, and I am delighted to be associated with GS Delhi Aces.”

With this acquisition, Guru Samruddhi, a diversified group spanning co-operative societies, insurance, tourism, and real estate, has added professional sport to its portfolio. CMD Vijay Pusdekar said, “We are immensely proud to represent the confidence of putting on a good show for tennis fans in Delhi and across the country.”

The Tennis Premier League, featuring eight franchises, continues to expand its star-studded roster. Alongside Paes, the league boasts ambassadors and owners such as Sania Mirza (Gurgaon Grand Slammers), Mahesh Bhupathi (SG Sports), Rakul Preet Singh (Hyderabad Strikers), and Sonali Bendre (Chennai Smashers).

Welcoming the new team, TPL co-founder Kunal Thakkur said, “This year, for the very first time, the league will feature ATP top-ranked players within 30–50.” Fellow co-founder Mrunal Jain added, “With visionary partners like Guru Samruddhi, we are confident this season will be historic, competitive, and truly memorable.

September 11, 2025
TPL serves up Season 7 in Ahmedabad with global stars and local passion

MUMBAI: Game, set, Ahmedabad, India’s only professional tennis league is ready to smash new ground. The Tennis Premier League (TPL), under the aegis of the All India Tennis Association (AITA), will stage its 7th season from 9–14 December at the Gujarat University Tennis Stadium, marking its first-ever move outside Maharashtra.

In hitting this milestone, TPL becomes only the fourth Indian sporting league to enter a 7th season, joining the ranks of IPL, Pro Kabaddi, and ISL. The eight-franchise tournament has heavyweight backers, from Leander Paes, Sania Mirza, and Mahesh Bhupathi to Rakul Preet Singh and Sonali Bendre. On court, fans can expect fireworks as international players ranked between 30 and 50 in the ATP rub shoulders with India’s finest, including two-time Grand Slam champion Rohan Bopanna.

What sets TPL apart is its trademark 25-point format quick, high-octane matches designed to keep crowds hooked. Over 400 tournaments across 20 plus cities in a single year and its Race to Gold Scholarships have made TPL a genuine grassroots-to-glory pipeline. Gujarat has already felt its impact, with age-group tournaments and scholarships energising the local tennis scene.

“This will be a real shot in the arm for tennis in Gujarat,” said Gujarat state Tennis Association secretary Shrimal Bhatt highlighting the historic arrival of top-ranked ATP stars. For co-founders Kunal Thakkur and Mrunal Jain, the shift to Ahmedabad is about scale and spirit bringing world-class tennis to a city fast emerging as a sporting capital.

With 250 plus matches played across seasons, international stars, and the promise of electrifying rallies, Season 7 is primed to be TPL’s most exciting chapter yet. Ahmedabad, brace yourself, tennis fever is about to hit full throttle.

September 1, 2025
Leander Paes’ Flying Man Ventures snares Apurva Sircar as CEO

MUMBAI: Very few sportsmen can cross the rubicon and move into running successful businesses. Tennis veteran and legend Leander Paes is attempting the same with his outfit Flying Man Ventures (FMV). He has hired marketing veteran Apurva Sircar as the company’s CEO. The goal: grow its business in various verticals like sports, sports education, health & wellness, corporate collaborations and entertainment.

Sircar announced his joining at the beginning of this week. Despite his experience, he expressed his nervousness.

Said Sircar on Linked in: “On Monday, I joined a legend in the world of sports to help him execute his vision of making the world a better place through sports and fitness. As I begin my days at at FMV, I feel excitement and nervousness in equal measure. The latter gets taken care of whenever Leander says (and says often), “I got you, champ!” It is my privilege to be Leander’s full-time professional partner off the court. He’s a global icon, having played professional tennis for nearly four decades. He is a man with amazing human values, Lee is an inspiration to so many across the globe.”

Sircar has had a career of 20 years having headed marketing at Bandhan Bank, brand, insights, corporate communications and digital markting at Aegas Federal Life Insurance, channel marketing at Birla Sun Life Insurance, worked as a brand manager with Kotak Mahindra Bank, apart from stints with Heinz India and Blowplast.

As he begins his journey at FMV, the gut feeling is that both he and Leander are going to hit it out of the park. Even if they are entering the sports business game a little late. That’s because the sports ecosystem is going to explode in the next decade as India works on building a sports culture.

November 30, 2024
SG Sports led by APL Apollo acquires ‘Bengaluru Spartans’ ahead of Tennis Premier League 2023

Mumbai: In yet another venture into the sporting world, SG Sports led by APL Apollo has acquired ‘Bengaluru Spartans’, one of the eight teams that will be participating in the much-awaited Tennis Premier League- TPL 2023. With the ownership of this team with SG Sports Ventures now, it has been renamed as ‘Bengaluru SG Mavericks’ with ace tennis player Sania Mirza as its brand ambassador. A new logo of the team has also been launched. ‘Bengaluru SG Mavericks’ is a complete team with both men and women tennis players who will participate in the high-octane sporting event in December, in different formats like Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles, Mixed Doubles, and Men’s Doubles.

APL Apollo is a leading structural steel tube brand with over 55 per cent share in the domestic market. Its strategic arm, SG Sports, is committed to significantly impacting the sporting industry.APL Apollo Tubes Ltd chief managing director (CMD) Sanjay Gupta has a huge passion for sports. This segment is dedicated to supporting and nourishing young sporting talent in India.

The fifth edition of the highly anticipated tournament is set to be held in December this year, with all the matches taking place at the Balewadi Stadium in Pune. The adrenaline-packed event is being organized under the auspices of the All India Tennis Association (AITA) and Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association (MSLTA). The popularity of TPL can be gauged from the fact that many celebrities have been associated with it. Among them are Sonu Sood, Arjun Kapoor, Malaika Arora, Rakul Preet Singh, Leander Paes, and Sonali Bendre. Sania Mirza has been with the team for the last three years and this would be her fourth year supporting Bengaluru. Leander Paes also has been associated since the beginning of this league and makes sure he is there for all the matches.

Expressing his enthusiasm for the venture, APL Apollo Tubes Ltd CMD Sanjay Gupta. said, “This is a great opportunity for our company to associate with the spirit of sports that teaches us the most valuable lessons in life. We look forward to this association with Bengaluru Spartans which is Bengaluru SG Mavericks now and wish each player ahead of the trailblazing contest to be held in December this year. It is an also amazing start with this league sport that has been gaining more and more popularity in India. It will be great to witness that the new talent will rub shoulders with some of the most versatile tennis players in the world Overall, it is a great moment to associate the name of the brand with a sport that is popular worldwide.”

Bengaluru SG Mavericks brand ambassador Sania Mirza said, “I am thrilled to be a part of this exciting venture and obliged to SG Sports for choosing me as their brand ambassador. As a former tennis player and woman, I feel that India has a lot of potential in terms of sports and tennis has seen more and more interest from our young generation recently. Still, there are miles to go before we shine on the world stage in this sport and Tennis Premier League provides a brilliant opportunity for young and upcoming players to prove their mettle on the court. SG Sports is doing a great job in supporting such budding players and giving them an ideal platform where they can compete with top players and learn from their skills.”

The other participating teams in TPL 2023 include the Bengal Wizards, Mumbai Leon Army, Punjab Tigers, Pune Jaguars, Bengaluru Spartans, Delhi Binny’s Brigade, Hyderabad Strikers, and Gujarat Panthers. Pertinent to mention here that Indian tennis legend Leander Paes has recently announced his acquisition of a stake in the Bengal franchise.

As far as the TPL format is concerned, it has eight franchises that will play a total of five matches to qualify for the semi-final. Each match between two franchises will have a total of 4 games (Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles, Mixed Doubles and Men’s Doubles). Each match will be worth 20 points, thus there will be a total of 80 points at stake in each contest. Each team will play a total of 400 points (80 points x 5 matches) at the league stage. The top 4 teams in the points table will qualify for the semi-finals.

The Tennis Premier League (TPL), packages traditional tennis into a highly entertaining tournament to capture the imagination of fans. With an unorthodox format, it is set to be a tennis equivalent to the Indian Premier League and is returning for its fifth season this year. The league is poised to write yet another chapter in the annals of Indian tennis history, as fans eagerly await the start of TPL 2023. Sports outside of cricket are gaining more traction among Indian audiences. Tennis has a sizeable following in India, with close to 100 million viewers that watched the sport on TV last year.

September 29, 2023
U.S. Polo Assn. brings “Legends Forever, to Play Together” in their latest campaign

Mumbai: U.S. Polo Assn, the iconic fashion brand known for its style and classic appeal, announces its latest fashion campaign. Conceptualised by WYP, a Wondrlab company, “Legends Forever, Play Together” weaves together threads of nostalgia, and partnership and brings back two sets of legendary duos.

The duos? Legendary tennis duo, Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes. And the original supermodel duo, Arjun Rampal and Milind Soman.

Mahesh and Leander, the Indian Express, relive their unforgettable moments on and around the tennis court. A testament to their incredible achievements, the camaraderie, and the unbreakable bond that made them true legends.

From the court to the ramp, Arjun and Milind take us back to their glamorous world of fashion. They stride confidently down the ramp, and we even get to see them work their magic backstage, their partnership exemplifies the elegance and sophistication that U.S. Polo Assn. has embodied for years. Their dynamic presence on and off the runway perfectly mirrors the brand’s commitment to timeless style and enduring grace.

Speaking about the campaign, India brand CEO Amitabh Suri said, “Legends Forever, Play Together’ could have only happened with the most iconic duos. That’s why we decided to bring legendary partnerships of Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes, and Arjun Rampal and Milind Soman back! The campaign harmoniously blends the nostalgia of the past with the excitement of the present, resonating with those who value the essence of unity and elegance. This campaign also seamlessly blends with our previous campaign, #TwinningForever, with Arjun Rampal.”

Wondrlab co-founder Amit Akali said, “We were thrilled to work on this legendary campaign. And both sets of legends were even more thrilled! They were really excited at the chance to rekindle their partnership! We wanted to capture these moments in a very editorial manner that does justice to them as well as their clothes as well as their relationship. This magic of which comes alive beautifully in the campaign.”

U.S. Polo Assn India VP marketing Deepansh Bhargava said, “We recognize the importance of creating an aura for the brand. And our campaign achieves just that. This concept infuses a fresh energy that resonates with our audience, recapturing the essence of what makes us iconic. Looking ahead, I’m excited about the next stage, where together with WYP, we’ll elevate our brand to even greater heights.”

August 31, 2023
Green Gold Animation announces animation series based on Leander Paes

Mumbai: Green Gold Animation – the studio behind “Chhota Bheem” – has signed tennis star Leander Paes for an animation series on his life story tentatively titled “Little Leander.”

“This animated original will be based on Leander’s life, the challenges and his childhood experiences during his journey to becoming one of the greatest tennis stars and a global icon,” said the statement.

Green Gold Animation is looking at creating the series in 3D/2D animation format.

The tennis star has visited the studio’s facility in Hyderabad for multiple narration sessions and has been involved in the initial phase of visual development. “Little Leander” will not just focus on Paes’ life story, interesting incidents, and turning points but also use his childhood images for referencing and research work. The team will reach out to his family members, close friends, and associates as well to put together the background material, said the studio in a statement.

“We are truly honoured to be able to collaborate with Leander Paes,” said Green Gold Animation founder and CEO Rajiv Chilaka. “We are privileged every time we get to witness genius, in any field. Mr. Leander has given us many of those moments and still continues to inspire us off court. But genius is nurtured through the hardest of challenges. It’s not easy to be Leander Paes, but it’s not meant to be easy. What makes a champion?”

Paes is one of the most successful players in tennis history with eight career Grand Slam doubles titles and ten career Grand Slam mixed doubles championships. He also holds many firsts in the world of tennis.

“I’m thrilled for this show to be made because this in a way also becomes my legacy to stay. This is a very heart-warming opportunity because through this series I will be communicating with young minds and looking to inspire them towards positive development,” said the tennis star. “I met Rajiv multiple times to understand how the story will develop and his vision for the series, I’m assured that I’m in safe hands. I would like to thank Kim and Rajiv for making this happen. I’m glad that this is taking off and can’t wait to see the pilot now.”

The pilot/teaser is expected to be ready in three months, according to the statement.

April 6, 2022
ZEE5 unveils first look of ‘Break Point’

Mumbai: ZEE5 has unveiled first look of the upcoming non-fiction series “Break Point”, based on the lives of tennis champions Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi. The seven-episode series will be exclusively available on ZEE5 soon.

The streaming platform has partnered with award-winning filmmaker duo Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari and Nitesh Tiwari to helm this series. It marks ZEE5’s first partnership with the filmmakers under their banner Earthsky Pictures, known for films such as “Dangal”, “Panga”, “Chhichhore”, and “Nil Battey Sannata”. This is also the first time that Ashwiny and Nitesh will be co-directing a project.

Revealing the first poster of the ZEE5 original series, Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari and Nitesh Tiwari in a joint statement said, “It’s great to bring to screen a series like this on the home-grown video streaming platform ZEE5. Working with icons Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes has been surreal. Bringing their untold story to screen is something that we will cherish forever.”

“Break Point” is a telling narrative of Paes and Bhupati’s friendship, partnership, belief, hard work and ambitions which made them one of the most feared doubles pairs during the late 1990s, ranking the world’s top position in 1999. The series also throws light on their bitter breakup and how they couldn’t hold on to their meteoric rise.

Sharing his sentiments on the upcoming series, Paes said, “I enjoyed this walk down memory lane shooting for ‘Break Point’ with wonderful storytellers like Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari and Nitesh Tiwari in collaboration with ZEE5. While Mahesh and my on-court partnership was widely covered, our off-court chemistry was largely speculated. This is the first time that our fans will get to see and hear it all, first-hand. Mahesh and I worked really hard to put India on top of world tennis and we are glad that we are getting a chance to present our story to the world, like never before.”

Bhupathi added, “It is no secret that I am reserved when it comes to communicating, so this is a big step for me to relive the journey and put it all out there in the most candid and honest manner. But, at the same time, I am happy that our fans will get to see our journey which was a mix of sweat, perseverance, brotherhood and at times blood and tears as well. This is surely going to be a treat for all, and I am thankful to Ashwiny, Nitesh, and ZEE5 for giving it everything.”

August 28, 2021
DSport to telecast Davis Cup world group qualifier between India and Croatia

MUMBAI: Discovery India’s sports channel DSport will broadcast Davis Cup World Group Qualifier between India and Croatia live, which is scheduled to play on 06-07 March 2020 from 7:30 pm onwards.

India now faces world number two Croatia for the qualifiers after routing Pakistan 4-0 in November last year. The Indian team includes Prajnesh Gunneswaran, Sumit Nagal and Ramkumar Ramanthan for singles. Leander Paes, Rohan Bopanna and Divij Sharan will represent India in doubles.

Discovery – South Asia senior vice president – affiliate sales and head of sports business, Vijay Rajput said: “Tennis fans across the country will be rooting for the national team in this important tie as India tries to make it to the World Group stage.”

This is the seventh time in as many years that the Indian team has made it to the qualifier stage of the elite team competition but is yet to make it to the world group.

February 18, 2020
Rio Olympics notches up impressive TV viewership numbers: Zapr

MUMBAI: Doubts had been raised whether arguably the world’s biggest competitive sports event – the ongoing Rio Olympics 2016 – would attract Indian viewers. Mainly because of the time zone differences between India and Brazil.

But lo and behold even the opening ceremony of the games lured viewers like a moth to a lamp; according to Zapr’s TV viewership audience pool. More than 5.6 million Indians tuned in at 4 am on 6 August 2016 to watch Gisele Bundchen stage her interpretation of the Girl from Ipanema, apart from a host of other Brazlilian singing and sports talents.

Day one of the Olympics received a grand viewership of 52.7 million viewers in India, despite claims that this year’s Olympics telecast has received the worst television viewership ratings compared to previous years in some parts of the world.

The repeat telecast of the opening ceremony later in the day was watched by 6.1 million viewers. According to the reports, 7.5 per cent of the viewers who watched the live telecast in the morning came back to watch the highlights.

The live telecast saw the highest viewership for the day between 8 pm and 11 pm pm during which famous Indian sportspersons took to the field: 14.4 million viewers tuned in between 8pm and 9 pm witnessing the Indian men’s hockey team’s first win in the Olympics this year.

The viewership increased to 15.4 million viewers in the next hour as Indian tennis players like Leander Paes, Rohan Bopanna and Sania Mirza kicked off with their first matches in the tournament.

A large portion of Indian TV viewers who watched the Rio Olympics had previously followed other popular sport events on TV, a massive 73.4 per cent of viewers who watched the Olympics had also watched the biggest sporting league in India – Vivo IPL 2016. 36.4 per cent of the Olympic viewers also watched the Pro Kabaddi League while 19.3 per cent watched the UEFA Euro 2016. A smaller portion of 1.5 per cent of Olympic viewers watched both the recent tennis tournaments.

The audience also heavily consumed Hindi GECs’ programmes apart from the sports channels which were The Kapil Sharma Show on Sony Entertainment TV, Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa on Colors TV and The Voice Kids on And TV.

The state of Maharashtra received the highest viewership for the Olympics telecast with 17. 9 per cent in urban and 7.9 per cent in rural. Uttar Pradesh received 10. 5 per cent urban share and 6.6 per cent rural. Down south , Tamil Nadu experienced the largest share of rural audiences watching the Olympics telecast in India. It recorded a 9.2 per cent urban share and 8.6 per cent rural share. On the other hand Andhra Pradesh generated an 8.7 percent urban share and 4.3 per cent rural. Karnataka got 8.6 per cent Uuban and 5.6 per cent rura shares while West Bengal notched up 7.5 per cent urban share and 6.0 per cent rural.

August 13, 2016