Paes wants to create champions after retirement

Pune, February 7

Leander Paes said creating champions is a dream he is nurturing for his second innings just like Rahul Dravid and Pullela Gopichand have done. Set to retire after the 2020 season, Paes said national badminton coach Gopichand and Dravid, who is the director of cricket operations at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, have set a benchmark in coaching.

“The re-invention of one’s self is important,” Paes said. “There is so much to do in the second innings. I want one of my athletes to win a Grand Slam and compete at the Olympics. I have tremendous respect for former players like Dravid and Gopichand who have trained younger generation to the highest level,” he added.

Paes and Australia’s Matthew Ebden exited from the Tata Open on Thursday after defeat against India’s Ramkumar Ramanathan and Purav Raja.