Leander Paes, Yatin Gupte acquire team from Bengal

KOLKATA: Kolkata-born tennis icon Leander Paes and Chairman of Wardwizard Group Yatin Gupte have come together to acquire a team from the City of Joy, which is set to compete in Season 5 of the Tennis Premier League.

They will compete against the likes of the Pune Jaguars, co-owned by Sonali Bendre, Hyderabad Strikers, co-owned by Rakul Preet Singh, Bengaluru Spartans, whose ambassador is Sania Mirza, and Punjab Tigers, co-owned by Taapsee Pannu.

All games of the revolutionary Tennis Premier League will be played in the Balewadi Stadium in Pune in association with the All India Tennis Association (AITA) and Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association (MSLTA).

The owner of the new franchise, Yatin Gupte, expressed his delight over becoming a part of the Tennis Premier League as he shared, “In terms of recognition and popularity, TPL is the premier competition of tennis in India. The level of competition in the league is fantastic. That prompted us to invest in a team that’ll take on other competitive teams in the tournament and we are excited to be part of such a wonderful tournament. It also gives us the opportunity to support and invest in Indian tennis, eventually helping elevate the status of tennis in the nation.”

The chairman of Wardwizard Group is a visionary businessman and sports enthusiast. Joy e-Bike is one of the flagship brands owned by the group and is one of the fastest growing EV brands in the country.

Adding on to why the Wardwizard Group bought a franchise in the innovative league, Yatin Gupte said, “I myself am a massive tennis fan, I want to help the sport grow in the country as much as possible and the Tennis Premier League provides a clear pathway for us to do that. The League with its innovative format is well on the way to transforming the tennis landscape in India and it fills me with joy that we can actively contribute to this objective of shining the spotlight on sport in the country.”

Speaking on why it made sense for him to come on-board as the co-owner of the franchise, tennis icon Leander Paes said: “I am glad to be the face and co-owner of the team as Kolkata is my hometown, it’s where I have some of my fondest memories from. The South Club in Kolkata is the most iconic tennis venue in the country that has hosted the most number of Davis Cup matches in India and has even produced legendary Indian tennis players such as Jaidip Mukerjea and Zeeshan Ali to name a few. I am sure that the presence of a team from Bengal will make Season 5 of the Tennis Premier League even bigger than the previous editions.”