Tennis legend Leander Paes brought lessons from more than three decades of international competition to the University of Central Florida during a special conversation hosted by The India Center at UCF on September 3 and moderated by Manoj Chopra, professor of engineering and associate dean for academic affairs in UCF’s College of Engineering and Computer Science.

The event, “Sport, Science, and Human Performance: A Conversation with Leander Paes,” explored the discipline, leadership and resilience behind sustained success at the highest levels of professional sports. Paes also discussed how developments in sports medicine, technology and performance science have transformed the way athletes train, recover and compete.

Paes, an 18-time Grand Slam doubles and mixed doubles champion, Olympic medalist, and former world No. 1 doubles player, discussed how science and data informed his approach to elite athletic performance.

The Science Behind Longevity

During the conversation, Paes explained that the foundation of his longevity was built long before he entered professional tennis. Growing up in a family with a strong background in sports and medicine, he learned to study his body as carefully as he practiced his game.

His father, a sports medicine physician and Olympic field hockey medalist Vece Paes, encouraged him to track measurements such as his resting and active heart rates from an early age. Monitoring those indicators helped Paes understand how his body responded to training, competition, fatigue and recovery. Paes emphasized that long-term success requires athletes to understand their bodies, adjust their preparation and take injury prevention seriously. Training at an elite level is not simply about working harder; it is about knowing when and how to push the body while allowing it to recover.

Technology, Data and Human Instinct

Paes also examined the growing role of artificial intelligence and digital analytics in sports. Today’s athletes and coaches can use performance data to evaluate movement, develop strategies, manage workloads and support recovery. However, Paes stressed that technology works best when it strengthens human decision-making rather than replacing it.

Data can help athletes prepare, but competition remains unpredictable. Reading an opponent, responding to momentum and making decisions under pressure still require awareness, adaptability and instinct. Paes encouraged athletes to use technology as a tool while continuing to develop the human qualities that allow them to respond in the moment.

A Conversation Beyond Tennis

An audience question-and-answer session gave attendees an opportunity to engage directly with Paes and learn how the principles that guided his tennis career can apply beyond sports. His reflections connected athletic achievement with broader lessons about leadership, resilience, collaboration and the pursuit of excellence. “It was my honor and privilege to host such an amazing guest,” stated Manoj Chopra, Professor of Engineering and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, UCF College of Engineering and Computer Science and UCF NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative. “Thank you, Leander Paes, for inspiring us with your experiences and insights.”

Connecting UCF, India and the Global Community

Presented in collaboration with the Consulate General of India in Atlanta, the event reflected The India Center’s mission to create meaningful conversations connecting UCF, India and the Central Florida community. “Our students had the opportunity to hear firsthand how scientific preparation and evidence-based training contributed to one of the most successful careers in international tennis” shared Leila Chacko, Assistant Director of The India Center at UCF. “His experiences offered valuable lessons about resilience, innovation, and the pursuit of excellence.”

By sharing examples from his career, Paes demonstrated how advances in sports medicine, performance analytics and human physiology have transformed elite athletics. His remarks highlighted the growing role of science and technology in helping athletes train smarter, recover more effectively and compete at the highest levels.