In a major political move, tennis icon Leander Paes has officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The legendary athlete took the party flag at the BJP headquarters in Delhi today, in the presence of Sukanta Majumdar and Kiren Rijiju. This comes after his high-profile meeting with BJP leadership at a Newtown hotel on March 24.

Expressing his excitement, Paes stated, “This is a monumental day for me. I want to thank PM Narendra Modi and Amit Shah for this opportunity. After representing India for 40 years on the court, I now have the chance to serve the people.” Paes emphasized his vision for the next 20 years, focusing on the ‘Khelo India’ initiative and sports education. He highlighted the need for better infrastructure, noting that despite decades of progress, India still lacks sufficient indoor tennis courts to tackle seasonal challenges like the monsoon. His primary goal remains creating job opportunities for young athletes through a robust sporting ecosystem.