8th June 2017 proved to be a happy day for Indian sports. A day when a name was added into the exclusive, now 4 member, list of Indian grand slam winners in Lawn Tennis.
It was a case of 2nd time lucky for the man hailing from the blissfully quaint hill station of Coorg. Rohan Bopanna had a successful run of results with his Pakistani partner Aisam Qureshi, which included a shot at the Mens Doubles title at the US open in 2010. But the crown eluded him then. Grand slam glory was destined for him on 8th June 2017 partnering Gabriela Dabrowski at the clay courts in Roland Garros. Mixed Doubles may well be considered a lesser sport, but this by no means reduces the sheen of his achievement. By winning the French Open Grand Slam at 37 years, an age that could easily be considered old in the physically demanding sport that tennis is, Rohan has given a fine example of the merits of never losing hope and keeping it going till success is attained. Moreover, by some quirk coincidence, this win almost serves as a worthy commemoration of the day that started it all for Indian wins at the sport's highest level. It was 7th of June 1997 when Mahesh Bhupathi, widely regarded as Rohan's mentor and now India's Davis cup captain/coach, won the French Open Mixed Doubles title partnering Japan's Rika Hiraki, gifting India its first grand slam title ever. 20 years to the day his protégé repeated the feat winning the title in a closely fought contest to lend a cheer to scores of Indian sports aficionados.
While we revel in this success, diehard tennis fans in India continue to await the day when the hitherto unheard of is achieved by an Indian in world tennis i.e success in singles at the top level. A taste of which came 21 years back on a shiny day in Atlanta when a young man brought individual Olympic glory for India. That 'young' man continues to delight us today with his awe inspiring control at the net and fitness at an age when top level sport is out of bounds for most, if not all, ordinary souls.
Here's wishing that successes such as these and the presence of such 'young men' inspire our Gen Next to strive and forge ahead at the topmost level of this fascinating sport.
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