Indian tennis legend Leander Paes has bought a franchise based in Kolkata that will take part in the fifth edition of the Tennis Premier League (TPL).
Along with Yatin Gupte, chairman of the Warwizard Group, the 49-year-old will share ownership of the team from the City of Joy.
The Kolkata-based team will face opposition from the Hyderabad Strikers, co-owned by actress Rakul Preet Singh, Sania Mirza’s Bengaluru Spartans, and the Taapsee Pannu- and Sonali Bendre-owned Punjab Tigers in TPL Season 5.
Tennis Premier League Season 5, which will take place in the Balewadi Stadium in Pune, is expected to be heavily influenced by the All India Tennis Association as well as the Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association.
Speaking on this association, Leander Paes said:
“I am glad to be the face and co-owner of the team as Kolkata is my hometown, it’s where I have some of my fondest memories from. The South Club in Kolkata is the most iconic tennis venue in the country that has hosted the most number of Davis Cup matches in India and has even produced legendary Indian tennis players such as Jaidip Mukerjea and Zeeshan Ali to name a few. I am sure that the presence of a team from Bengal will make season 5 of the Tennis Premier League even bigger than the previous editions.”
Yatin Gupte, Managing Director, Wardwizard Innovations and Mobility, further commented:
”In terms of recognition and popularity, TPL is the premier competition of Tennis in India, the level of competition in the league is fantastic. That prompted us to invest in a team that’ll take on other competitive teams in the tournament and we are excited to be part of such a wonderful tournament. It also gives us the opportunity to support and invest in Indian tennis, eventually helping elevate the status of tennis in the nation. I myself am a massive tennis fan, I want to help the sport grow in the country as much as possible and the Tennis Premier League provides a clear pathway for us to do that. The League with its innovative format is well on the way to transforming the tennis landscape in India and it fills me with joy that we can actively contribute to this objective of shining the spotlight on sport in the country.“
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