Childhood memories bind Sourav Ganguly, Leander Paes

KOLKATA: It's not often that we get to see two legends of Indian sports share a common dais. A felicitation function of All India Tennis Association (AITA) secretary general Hiranmoy Chatterjee at a city club brought together Kolkata's most famous sports personalities - Sourav Ganguly and Leander Paes together. The duo grew up almost together before taking different paths to stardom.
But they still remember those growing up days and recalled the summer of 1991 when they once trained under legendary Indian football coach PK Banerjee.
"I thought of beating Sourav in a sprint," Paes recalled. "But I did not know that he was meant for the long haul."
Sourav said he did not remember everything of that day when they practised at the Salt Lake stadium. "That was very long ago," Sourav said. "But what I still remember is the hunger and determination of Paes which had taken him this far," the former India skipper added.
Paes also showered his admiration for Sourav. "To me, he is the best Indian skipper ever," he stated to huge applause from the audience.
The southpaw was also keen to see his friend continue the sport for ever. "Luckily he plays an individual sport unlike me where I get dropped in spite of being good enough," Sourav said in a lighter vein.
"But I want to see Paes go to Tokyo Olympics too," he added. And to make that possible the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president also volunteered to help out the tennis ace. "If he (Paes) wants I can still train with him to keep him fit and going," Sourav said as Paes nodded back with his thumbs up.
A friend in need is a friend indeed.