The election of Leander Paes as President of the Bengal Tennis Association (BTA) in November 2025 marks a pivotal transition for tennis administration in West Bengal.
Paes an 18-time Grand Slam champion, Olympic medallist, and ITF Hall of Famer steps into the role with unanimous support, succeeding long-serving administrator Hironmoy Chatterjee. His arrival has injected a rare blend of global sporting stature and emotional connection into the association’s leadership, bringing with it both renewed expectations and a strategic mandate for long-term transformation.
Paes’s elevation is not merely symbolic. Over the past decade, Indian federations have increasingly turned to former athletes to usher in more responsive, athlete-centric governance. Yet the risk with celebrity appointments often lies in administrative inexperience. Paes has consciously mitigated that risk by adopting what he calls a “student leader” philosophy anchoring his leadership in humility, collaboration, and structured learning from seasoned administrators. For Bengal tennis, this attitude may well be the biggest asset of his early tenure.
A defining feature of this transition is its stability. Paes previously served as Honorary Vice-President of the BTA, giving him insight into the system he now leads. His first message as President emphasised humility and gratitude, paying rich tribute to former President Hironmoy Chatterjee and Chief Operating Officer Sujoy Ghosh, whom Paes credits for shaping Indian Davis Cup campaigns for nearly two decades. He made clear that his world record of 45 Davis Cup doubles wins was achieved “thanks to these gentlemen.”
This acknowledgment is more than courtesy it is a strategic signal. Unlike typical administrative upheavals that bring sweeping change, Paes is choosing continuity. The outgoing leadership’s technical expertise remains central to the BTA’s operations, easing Paes into the role and ensuring stability as he lays down longer-term plans.
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Paes’s personal connection to Bengal tennis adds emotional depth to the appointment. He grew up playing junior tournaments in Kolkata under-10, under-12, under-14 events and recalls competing at the Limca Masters at BTA and South Club. The position, he said, comes at a “humbling moment,” especially following the passing of his father, Dr. Vece Paes. This sense of homecoming strengthens his legitimacy among stakeholders.
The Dual Icon Model: Paes and Ganguly
Paes’s presidency aligns uniquely with Sourav Ganguly’s return to the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB). For the first time, West Bengal’s two most iconic global athletes simultaneously head its two major sports bodies. This “Dual Icon Governance Model” creates unprecedented political leverage for sports development in the state. Paes has openly acknowledged the value of Ganguly’s administrative experience, calling him an important sounding board and expressing intent to “pick his brains” on governance. Their combined influence could accelerate infrastructure, sponsorship, and policy initiatives especially the long-pending plan for a world-class tennis academy in Kolkata.
Strategic Pillars of the Paes Administration
Paes has outlined three core priorities that will define his presidency.
Governance and Administrative Discipline: Paes knows that administrative success requires a different skill set than athletic excellence. By positioning himself as a learner committed to discipline, he aims to build credibility with sponsors and government partners. Strengthening accountability, formalising governance processes, and improving transparency are expected to form the backbone of his reforms.
Grassroots Development and Talent Pathways: Paes’s stated goal is to “create pathways for the next generation to excel nationally and internationally.” Bengal already has promising junior structures—High-Performance Groups, Junior Coaching Programmes, and fitness systems. His challenge is scaling them and ensuring the pathway leads to international competition.
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Success stories like Kolkata’s Amrita Mukherjee, an Asian U14 champion, highlight the region’s potential. Paes wants to build a system that consistently produces players capable of competing at Wimbledon with “the tricolour in the crowd.”
Infrastructure: The Long-Awaited Academy: A cornerstone of Paes’s long-term vision is resurrecting the plan for a dedicated Leander Paes Tennis Academy. Ten acres were earlier earmarked near the Eastern Bypass by the state government. Paes’s global profile and new office give him a unique opportunity to revive the project, which is essential for high-performance training, reducing reliance on facilities like DKS and South Club.
Early Tests: A Busy 2026 Calendar
The first quarter of 2026 will serve as Paes’s initial operational test. The BTA is set to host three international events:
- S.V. Ramayya Memorial MT400 Masters (Jan 5–11, 2026, South Club)
- DKS ITF Juniors (J200) (Jan 19–24, 2026)
- Men’s USD 30,000 ITF Event (March 9, 2026)
Their successful execution will demonstrate administrative efficiency and signal the strength of the Paes-Ghosh leadership team. For all the optimism surrounding Paes’s appointment, the road ahead carries challenges familiar to Indian sports financial constraints, governance reforms, and the need for strong political partnerships. But Paes brings something few administrators can offer: global credibility, personal legacy, and an unwavering commitment to Bengal’s tennis culture.
If he can convert his star power into infrastructure, clear pathways, and disciplined governance, Bengal tennis may well be on the cusp of the transformational era he envisions.
