In one of Indian tennis’s most iconic moments, Leander Paes and Sania Mirza captured the country’s first-ever mixed doubles gold medal at the Asian Games in 2006, during the Doha Asiad in Qatar.
The star Indian duo triumphed over Japan’s Satoshi Iwabuchi and Akiko Morigami in a thrilling final, winning 7-5, 5-7, 6-2. It was a clash of styles, experience, and fierce determination—culminating in a golden finish for India on the hard courts of Doha.
For Indian fans, the victory was more than just a medal. It marked a powerful moment of collaboration between two of the nation’s tennis legends—Paes, with his unparalleled Davis Cup record and Grand Slam experience, and Mirza, already an emerging global force in women’s tennis at the time.
Their win not only added to India’s medal tally but also signified a turning point for mixed doubles partnerships from the country on international stages, including later Grand Slam successes for Mirza.
Almost two decades later, the image of Paes and Mirza standing atop the podium in Doha still stands as a symbol of Indian tennis unity, excellence, and historic firsts.
