The 1996 Olympic Games were held in Atlanta, USA. A total of 49 athletes from India participated in 13 sports, but this team was able to win only one medal. For the first time since 1980, Leander Paes brought a historic medal to India. At the same time, the medal drought in individual sports in the last 44 years ended. Before this, KD Jadhav brought a medal for India in wrestling in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. Leander Paes is the first and only player who has won an Olympic medal for India in tennis. Let us know how he did this feat in the Atlanta Olympics.

The 'magic' of Leander Paes

Three tennis players from India have qualified for the Paris Olympics 2024. While Sumit Nagal will participate in singles, Rohan Bopanna and N Sriram Balaji will compete in doubles. Sumit Nagal's ranking in singles is currently 68, while Rohan Bopanna recently achieved the number one ranking in doubles in January. However, when Leander Paes participated in the Atlanta Olympics, his ranking was 126. Not only this, he got entry in this tournament through a wild card. Therefore, no one expected a medal from him. Then he did 'magic' and became the first Indian to win an Olympic medal in tennis.

Leander Paes created history in the Atlanta Olympics.

Paes had revealed in an interview during the Olympics that winning that medal was nothing less than magic for him. Playing against Brazil's Fernando Meligeni for the bronze medal, Paes had already lost one set and in the second set he had to save a break point. After this, he not only saved the break point but also won two sets and won the bronze medal. Paes defeated Meligeni 3-6, 6-2, 6-4. Regarding this victory, Paes has said that during those 45 minutes something amazing and magical happened to him, about which he does not remember anything properly. He had gone into the 'zone' for that time.

Paes was injured before the game

Leander Paes may have got a wild card entry, but he performed brilliantly in the Atlanta Olympics and made it to the semi-finals. However, there he had to face defeat at the hands of America's Andre Agassi. During this time Paes got injured. After losing in the semi-finals, he now had to compete for the bronze medal, but his wrist was bandaged and it seemed difficult for him to play. After this, he not only recovered from the injury, but also won the medal. With this, he also became the first Indian and Asian to win a medal in tennis.

Was preparing for 4 years in Atlanta

As soon as the 1992 Barcelona Olympics ended, Leander Paes went to Atlanta for preparation. He kept preparing for this tournament for 4 years. To get familiar with the weather and courts of America, during this time he played tournaments only in those places of South America where the altitude was high and the tennis courts were hard. When the Olympics started, Paes played a draw with Pete Sampras in the first round. After this Sampras withdrew from the tournament, then Paes defeated Richie Reinberg of America. After this Paes reached the semi-finals and finally won the bronze medal. However, after this he kept putting his claim in the Olympics till 2016, but did not get a medal again. He also holds the record of playing the most number of Olympics (7).