Paes looking forward to partner Bhupathi in Beijing

New Delhi, May 20 (UNI) Looking forward to playing with Mahesh Bhupati in the Beijing Olympics, tennis ace Leander Paes today expressed the hope of winning a medal in the doubles event.

''I and Mahesh have played lot of tennis togther. We are playing for the past eight years in the Davis cup and Grand Slam tournaments. Recently, we have registered a win in the Davis cup,'' Paes told mediapersons during a felicitation ceremony organised by FICCI and Coca-Cola on the occassion of the launching of the 2008 edition of the Limca Book of World Records.

''I can assure you that we will play to the best of our potential and hopefully we will return with an Olympic medal,'' he added.

Replying to a question regarding the preparations for the Beijing Olympics, Paes said that the preparations are going in the right direction.

''I am fit, I am strong, Preparations are exccellent. This time I will try to do better what I had done at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics,'' he stated.

Paes, who was the second Indian to won a medal in an individual event at the Olympics, is going to participate for the fifth time straight in the Games.

He, however shrugged of suggestions that this will be his last appearence in the Olympics.

''I never really put any stops. I have never said that this will be my last match or game or last Olympics.

''I feel very proud to represent my country. To represent the country on and off the field is a great honour for me and I have tried do this with best of my abilities,'' he said.

Meanwhile, Paes also stated that this is the second time he has participated in the launching of the Limca Book of World Records.

Paes remarked that the last time he was a part of this event was in 1996, just before the Atlanta Olympics in which he had won a bronze medal by defeating Fernando Meligeni of Brazil.

He hoped that it will prove to be lucky this time around too.

''I know it is a coincidence. But may be it will be good for me and the country. Last time I had won a bronze medal after the book launching event,'' Paes quipped.

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