Indian doubles tennis star Leander Paes looks keen to promote football in India.
Indian doubles tennis star Leander Paes looks keen to promote football in India. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) senior vice-president Subrata Dutta has also shown intent in getting Paes on board as brand ambassador for the sport. "Within two to three days I will have a word with Prafful Patel (AIFF president).
Leander Paes
It will be a wonderful thing if Leander becomes Indian football's ambassador. "We want him (Leander) because he is a global sports icon. If he becomes our ambassdor it will be a huge boost for Indian football."
Paes believes his passion foru00a0 the sport makes him the right candidate. "It's only a matter of time, let's see how it goes. From childhood football has been my favourite game and I'm passionate about the sport," said Paes, who was present at a Football Players' Association's initiative to raise funds for the Sikkim earthquake relief fund in Kolkata yesterday.
Ex-India football skipper Baichung Bhutia, who is the pioneer of the Sikkim relief fund, could not make the function due to bad weather. Paes signed a football, to be autographed by all Indian national football players and auctioned, with the proceeds set to be donated to the relief fund.
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