Sport | Tennis

A German fan for Indian hero Paes

Gerhard Rach, the former Indian hockey coach from Germany, is looking forward to watch Indian star Leander Paes in action during the Dubai Open Tennis tournament doubles event.

  • By K.R. Nayar, Senior Reporter
  • Published: 00:31 March 4, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • Image Credit: Ahmad Ramzan/Gulf News
  • Rach, who coached the Indian team during the Athens Olympics, wants to see Paes, who is the son of his friend and one-time rival Vece Paes.

Dubai: Gerhard Rach, the former Indian hockey coach from Germany, is looking forward to watch Indian star Leander Paes in action during the Dubai Open Tennis tournament doubles event.

Rach, who coached the Indian team during the Athens Olympics, wants to see Paes, who is the son of his friend and one-time rival Vece Paes.

"I have played against his father. He played in Munich Olympics for the Indian team in 1972. We lived in one villa when he came to play in the German league and prepare for the Munich Olympics.

I was then playing for Baveria in league and we became friends. I am so happy to hear that his son is a great tennis player and even won a medal for India in Olympics," said Rach, who is here to set up a hockey academy.

"I could not go for the Dubai women's event. I never missed a match of Steffi Graf and Boris Becker. I am a great fan of both of them and have always tried to watch them in action whenever time permitted."

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