Olympics tennis flashback: When an inspired Leander Paes created history at Atlanta ’96

Leander Paes of India stands on the podium after winning a bronze medal in the men’s singles tennis event at the Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia on August 3, 1996. (Getty Images)

However, all was not lost. He had the chance to redeem himself in the playoff for 3rd place and the bronze medal. But he had to let go off the disappointment of losing to Agassi, and also overcome the pain caused by a wrist injury he suffered in the semi-final.

Brazilian Fernando Meligeni, world number 93 who had lost to Sergi Bruguera in the other semi-final, was his opponent in the playoff. Paes felt the nerves before the game. He later described the emotions he underwent: “I got up edgy in the morning. Normally, I go through my routine, but I couldn’t keep from thinking about the match.”

He knew there were now high expectations from him. The team physician told him “You’re the one who can do it, please get us the medal.” While he was waiting at the locker room before the game, one friend who noticed his nervousness and told him “Relax. Just go out and do your best.” “No”, Paes replied, “I have to win, I’m too close.”

The match got off to the worst possible start for Leander. His game, which had served him so well so far, began to falter. Meligeni won the first set 6-3, and his hopes of the bronze medal started diminishing.

His cause wasn’t helped by a rain delay, and he later described the situation as: “I didn’t work on strategy; I just wanted the match over by now. I was playing emotional tennis, I wasn’t thinking.”

However, he managed to play some inspired tennis and found a way to win the next two sets 6-2, 6-4 to win the match 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 and seal the bronze medal for himself. Meligeni was in awe of his opponent’s display and said “You never know what he’s doing the next point. It’s not easy to play him”

On a day when he probably played his worst tennis in the fortnight he had spent at Atlanta, Paes had managed to achieve the biggest victory in his career. When asked about how he managed to pull it off, he gave a one-word reply: “Guts”.

It was a proud moment for the country when he stood on the podium with Agassi and Bruguera with his medal. Paes went on to script many great victories for India in Davis Cup, and also achieved glory for himself in the doubles circuit.

However, if he were to select one particular achievement that he relishes, it would be the bronze medal that he won for the country against the odds.

Senior journalist Rohit Brijnath aptly described the glorious day in July 1996 as “The day Leander dissolved an Indian cynicism, the day he produced such charismatic courage that he had the capacity to move, the day when that strangest of things happened. Athletes win for themselves first. But that day, he let us think he was winning for us.”