New Delhi [India], April 1 : Olympic medalist and former Tennis star Leander Paes met Prime Minister Narendra Modi just a day after joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in New Delhi on Wednesday.
PM Modi, in a post on X, said, "Had a great meeting with Leander Paes. India is very proud of his accomplishments in tennis. We discussed a wide range of issues. His passion towards sports and nation-building is truly admirable."
On Tuesday, Paes officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the presence of Union Ministers Kiren Rijiju and Sukanta Majumdar, marking his entry into the political arena ahead of the upcoming electoral season.
The tennis legend Leander Paes previously debuted in politics with the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC in 2021.
Expressing his gratitude for the new platform, the tennis ace remarked, "Today is a big day in my life. I want to thank the PM, HM, and Nitin Nabin ji. I am really grateful for the way the BJP has given me this opportunity to serve sports, sports education, and the youth."
Welcoming the sporting legend into the party fold, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said, "This is a moment to celebrate as the iconic Leander Paes has joined the BJP. I clearly foresee that you will play a bigger innings on the BJP platform. Your joining the BJP will ensure that the Khelo India movement gains further momentum."
Paes still holds the crown of the most successful tennis player in the country and has enjoyed unprecedented success on the court. He received the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, India's highest sporting honour, in 1996-97, the Arjuna Award in 1990, the Padma Shri award in 2001 and India's third-highest civilian award, the Padma Bhushan prize in January 2014.