Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated veteran Leander Paes and youngster Sumit Nagal for their respective triumphs at the Wimbledon tennis Grand Slam in London.
Paes combined with Martina Hingis to clinch the mixed doubles title, his 16th Grand Slam overall, yesterday.
“More good news from Wimbledon. Congrats again Martina Hingis. Leander your accomplishments are truly inspiring and they make us very proud,” the Prime Minister said.
Seventh seeded Indo-Swiss pair drubbed the fifth seeded Austrian-Hungarian team of Alexander Peya and Timea Babos 6-1 6-1 in the lop-sided summit clash which was over in just 40 minutes.
It was Paes’ eighth mixed doubles title and second with Hingis. They had won the Australian Open early this year.
The 42-year-old Paes has eight men’s doubles crowns in his Grand Slam collection.
Earlier, Nagal entered the history books as only the sixth Indian to win a Grand Slam junior title after winning the boys doubles trophy at the Wimbledon with partner Nam Hoang Ly.
The Prime Minister tweeted his appreciation for the teenager.
“It was very heartening to see Sumit Nagal win at @Wimbledon. Congrats & best wishes to this young sportsman.@nagalsumit.”
The 17-year-old Nagal and his eighth seed Vietnamese partner overcame the fourth seeds Reilly Opelka and Akira Santillan 7-6(4) 6-4 in the title clash that lasted 63 minutes.
Yuki Bhambri was the last Indian to taste success at the top level in junior tennis when he won the Australian Open boys singles title in 2009.
(With inputs from PTI)
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