In a ceremony at the Customs Club tent in Kolkata, tennis legend Leander Paes unveiled a bust of Olympic hockey icon Leslie Claudius, paying tribute to the man who inspired his journey to becoming a world champion.
The unveiling, which took place at the Customs Club tent on Leslie Claudius Sarani and was organised by the Leslie Claudius Memorial Committee, saw an emotional Paes reflecting on his deep personal connection with “Uncle Les,” as he called him.
“Uncle Les taught me to dream. He showed me that a boy from the streets of Ballygunge- Park Circus could become a world champion,” said Paes, his voice thick with emotion.
Photo: TT Online
Padma Shri awardee Leslie Claudius, one of India’s most decorated hockey players, served as an inspiration to generations of athletes. A four-time Olympic medalist, he was part of India’s golden era in hockey, winning gold medals in 1948, 1952, and 1956, followed by a silver in 1960. His association with the Customs Club, where he worked and played, spanned several decades, making him a legendary figure in Calcutta’s sporting landscape.
The connection between the Paes and Claudius families runs deep. Leander’s father, Vece Paes, a hockey midfielder who won a bronze medal in the 1972 Olympics, shared a close friendship with Claudius. This relationship allowed young Leander to witness firsthand the dedication and passion that defined Claudius’s approach to sports.
Paes carved his own legendary status in Indian sports. An Olympic bronze medalist in tennis singles at the 1996 Atlanta Games, he has won 18 Grand Slam titles in doubles and mixed doubles. His career, spanning over three decades, includes a record eight appearances at the Olympics, making him India’s most successful tennis players.
Paes also spoke about his own identity and his connection to Calcutta, revealing his diverse heritage. “I have Michel Madhusudan Dutt’s lineage from my mother’s side and Goan-Portuguese ancestry from my father’s side, my name may be Leander Paes, but I am Bengali at heart,” he said, highlighting the multicultural fabric that defines Kolkata’s sporting legacy.
