For Leander Paes, who last played a competitive tennis match, a Davis Cup tie against Croatia in Zagreb, on March 7, the disruption caused by Covid-19 gave him time to look back for working out his future.

“The year 2020 has been tough for all of us. But it has also given me the time to sit back and take a look at my life. It was almost as if life had come to a standstill at a red traffic signal and that made me introspect and think beyond tennis,” Paes said at a city hotel on Friday.

He had actually thought of playing a farewell tour in 2020, with the Tokyo Olympics being a highlight. But fate had other ideas and as the world reeled under the pandemic, the Indian star started to diversify.

“I don’t want to be sucked into a whirlpool of negativity. I want to give back to society in such a way that kids can feel motivated. My pet project now is taking sports education to schools. We are working very hard on that,” he said.

“I want to reach every child in India. I want to teach them leadership and teamwork. Sport is the best vehicle for the community to nurture our children and to spread positivity. The pandemic is causing havoc on mental health worldwide. Sport is the perfect platform to take care of depression and loneliness. You develop a sense of belonging and a sense of self worth.”

India first

“For me India comes first, be it on the tennis court or otherwise. That’s why I also want to be associated with Indian entrepreneurs and make them global brands. We Indians don’t appreciate each other enough. We need to do that,” said Paes, who was in the city to launch India’s first fleet of Motovolt smart e-cycles.

“Coronavirus magnified the weaknesses of humanity. But I am sure we will come out stronger. Now that vaccines are also becoming a reality, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. But for a country like ours, with such huge population, it will be a challenge to reach every one of us.

“For the world of sport, economy and life in general to get back to normal, it is absolutely imperative that everyone gets access to the vaccine. We Indians are very resilient and I am sure we will come through this.”

Eye on Tokyo

Tennis, of course, is still important to Paes, who turns 48 next year. He is hoping that the Tokyo Olympics will finally take place and he will be able to take part in it, so that India features again in the record books.

“It would be great if we can push it to eight Olympics and India can improve on the world record,” Paes, who already holds the record of being the only tennis player in the world to have appeared in seven Olympics, said.

But the Atlanta Olympics bronze medal winner also wants another opportunity to make the country proud by winning a medal. “It is not just about participation. It is always about competing and aiming for medals,” Paes said.

He added that he was ready to partner anyone. “Rohan (Bopanna), Divij (Sharan), Ankita Raina (for mixed doubles) — as far as I am concerned, I am ready to play with anyone at the Olympics. And if needed, I will love to play with them in tournaments ahead of Tokyo.

“We are still waiting for the calendar to be announced for 2021. There is uncertainty over the Australian Open also. But I am still hopeful.”