Off court, it pays to be Paes!

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal">As he tees off on the vast stretches of the DLF Golf & Country Club, Leander Paes lends a careful ear to tips by former Test cricketer-turned-avid golfer Kapil Dev. Leander attempts his next shot, and his newfound instructor lets out a mild cheer. No, the tennis ace hasn’t switched over to a new career. <br />‘‘I love golf,’’ clarifies Leander, who was in Delhi as an ESPN nominee for the IMG-managed Bilt Skins golf event, ‘‘I started playing some five-six years back.Since then, my interest in golf has grown.’’<br />The sporting spirit notwithstanding, games other than tennis are part of Leander’s hobby brigade. ‘‘I am basically an athlete — an all-round sports person. But as long as my two legs keep going, I will keep playing tennis,’’ maintains Leander, ‘‘Tennis has given me a lot. For me, it has been the education of a lifetime.’’<br />Back in India from Orlando, Leander is busy catching up with life in the country. ‘‘Although I have a lot of Indian friends there, I miss our country’s culture in America. I miss home, my family and Indian food. If I am based there, it is because the US offers me top-class training venues,’’ explains Leander.<br />But there won’t be any training over the next few days. Leander is on a two-week break from tennis. But he is definitely looking forward to the future. ‘‘Year 2003 will be very important for me. I will concentrate a lot on doubles and regain my position in international tennis.’’ As the diamond stud on his ear catches the light of the sun, it complements the hearty smile Leander breaks into. The man knows how to hold court.<br /><span style="" font-style:="" italic="">sanghitasingh@indiatimes.com</span> </div> </div>