Former tennis star Leander Paes - who is expected to be the face of Trinamool Congress in Goa for next year's assembly elections - has told NDTV that he was approached directly by the party to join up in the state. "My relationship with Mamata Banerjee goes back many years," said the 48-year-old, whose mother is from Bengal. "When Mamata didi says something, she delivers... she is a true champion," Mr Paes told NDTV.