NEWSLINKS
US EDITION
COLUMNISTS
DIARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ELECTION 99
ELECTIONS
ARCHIVES

Search Rediff

The Rediff Interview/ Dr Vece Paes

'Mahesh, Leander agonised for over a year'

Hockey Olympian Dr Vece Paes, who is currently running Paes en Sport in Calcutta, agreed to speak to Rifat Jawaid after much persuasion. Talking about the split between his son Leander and his doubles partner Mahesh Bhupati, Paes Sr said the break-up has shocked him and other family members as much as it has shocked Indian tennis lovers.

How pained are you and other family members at Leander's decision to part ways with Mahesh on the ATP circuit and in the Grand Slam championship?

We are disappointed that Leander and Mahesh will be not be playing together, as a team, on the ATP Tour, at least for this year. They were great friends, outstanding partners who reached the pinnacle of success in doubles on the ATP Tour through hard work and talent. They had achieved great honour and brought great joy to themselves, their families and all of India. As Indians they could have created history.

We respect Leander and Mahesh's decision to split and the respective families will stand by them as always.

What, according to you, were the factors that finally led to a split in the world's most deadly tennis duo?

Leander has mentioned that Piperno, Mahesh's coach, instigated the split between them. The innuendoes and misinformation fed to Mahesh led to mistrust between the two stars. I will not go into the details of the split, as it will only lead to a discussion. It was this very stand-off that has split them.

You have known Mahesh from very close quarters. How far do you feel he is responsible in the wake of Leander's criticism of Piperno?

I would not like to comment on Mahesh or Leander's role in this problem. Suffice to say, they do not trust each other and have decided to go their own way. Whatever chance the two players and their families have of salvaging the partnership will be lost.

Do you think Leander's decision will have serious repercussions on Indian tennis, which has had only Leander and Mahesh as heroes of international repute in recent years? The duo's phenomenal success had led to hordes of kids taking up the game seriously...

The ramifications of this split will definitely shake up all sports-loving Indians, particularly those youngsters who dream of becoming another Leander or Mahesh. At the end of the day, they are adults and professionals. They have agonised for over a year before taking this decision. We will all have to live with it and hope there may be a tomorrow!

Leander has often been quoted as accusing Mahesh of not paying serious attention to his physical regimen. Do you think that factor too influenced Leander's decision?

Leander mentioned Mahesh's physical fitness levels at the Challenger in Calcutta in February 1999. This was not an issue, but was a statement explaining Mahesh's loss to Leander at that particular tournament after Mahesh had won the first set. No, but I do not believe this was an issue.

How soon do you foresee Leander teaming up with Mahesh once again on the professional circuit?

Fortunately Mahesh and Leander have consented to play in the Davis Cup and in Olympics together. They have set their goals on an Olympic medal. I believe they will have to first rekindle their trust in each other and if they click in the Olympics, who knows, in 2001 they could probably be together again.

Recently Mahesh had reportedly told a newspaper that it's Leander who didn't want to play with him. How do you react to that?

The split was not Leander's decision alone. There was a stand-off which could not be resolved for over a year, and hence the responsibility lies with both Leander and Mahesh.

Leander's recent impressive showing in last week notwithstanding, do you believe Mahesh's absence will affect his performance in doubles events? After all, by Leander's own admission, Mahesh and he have been close friends for over six years and hence know each other's temperament well.

Both Leander and Mahesh are champions. They are good doubles players individually and great together. Once they settle down with their respective partners, they will do well again.

The Rediff Interviews

Tell us what you think of this interview