Training facilities on upswing in country: Paes

Leander Paes says in the next few years players of international calibre would emerge even from small cities because of the upbeat of training facilities now available in the country.

Indian tennis ace Leander Paes said he was sure that in the next few years players of international calibre would emerge even from small cities also because of the kind of training facilities now available in the country.

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Paes, who won his first Grand Slam men's doubles title in five years at the US Open last month, said of late training facilities were on upswing in the country, which was good for the future of the budding talents.

"In my time, the kind of training that is now available like at the Nandan Bal Tennis Academy were not there. Proper training at such Academies would surely produce tennis players of international class," he told reporters after inaugurating the Nandan Bal Tennis Academy at Magarpatta near here.

The 33-year-old, who later visited Endurance Gym at Kothrud in the city, said he was able to survive for 16-long years in the sport because of self-motivation, endurance, fitness and discipline.

"Whatever be the age and irrespective of the strata of society a person belongs to, if he is disciplined and fit, he can make a mark.