Vetern tennis star Leander Paes today said Indian youngsters have a good opportunity to shine at the Asian Games in Incheon in the absence of top players.
"This will also gives lots of experience to the kids, to the youngsters. They have lot of potential, lot of talent. It is nice for them. This is a stage where they can show they can shine. If they come back with some medal, they can also show their position in the Davis Cup team," the 41-year told reporters here at a clinic at Khar Gymkhana
The country's medal hopes in tennis, in which it has scooped up a total of 23 medals in the previous editions, have been dented severely by the pullout of top players such as Somdev Devvarman, Paes himself and Rohan Bopanna.
Somdev had won both singles and doubles gold medals at the 2010 Guangzhou Games, where India bagged five medals including a silver and two bronze.
Paes, winner of 14 Grand Slam titles and an Olympic bronze medallist in singles, felt that India has been struggling with the depth in singles.
"In doubles we have depth as I and Rohan (Bopanna) play at the higher level. There are three four teams who play on the Asian level but as compared to the world level it's a different story altogether. At the world level we have three teams who can do really well but in singles there's only Somdev (Devvarman) who is strong, is fit, puts his heart in everything. But he also needs support," he said.
He felt Indians need to improve their fitness and strength to fare better.
"Indians definitely need to improve their entire game. Indians are more intellectual kind but when it comes to physicality and power we definitely need to improve. It's a lot about technique, using your legs a lot etc.
"Height is a big advantage. You must have seen guys like Marin (Cilic) what a big serve he has, the way he played against (Roger) Federer was awesome. 17 aces in the (US Open) final that's amazing, winning five games almost if you calculate," he said.
