At 60+ majority of our Indian women suffer knee or back problems and are unable to take long walks or are prevented from doing household work. So, when you find a woman in this age group making her progress in her favourite sport with advancing age, you are certainly inspired by her achievements. Mangal Saraf a former BMC officer has recently retired from her job and wants to concentrate now on the game of table tennis. Mangal lives in Mulund, but is prepared to travel to South Mumbai, to visit different Gymkhanas/ clubs and play with players with variety of games. With her forceful attack, she is capable of beating many good players in Men’s section. Mangal has been playing this game for the past 40 years.
Mangal Saraf
Mangal has just won the recently concluded National Veterans’ Table Tennis Championship bagging Gold medals in 60+ women’s individual singles as well as Women’s team championship event. This is not the first Gold medal for Mangal, as in the past in 40+ veterans national Championship, she had bagged the title and gold medal seven times. Playing stylish attacking game, Mangal has no match in her age group and hence many a times plays in the Men’s team event, in local and state level ranking tournaments. representing her club.
Mangal with her friend Neeta Kulkarni
“I had requested the organisers to permit me to play in the lower age groups, but, as per the new rules, a player is required to play strictly under his or her age group only. Having won the state and national championship this year, I have now set my focus on 2018 World table tennis Championship. My ambition is to win this World Championship,” says Mangal.
Very frank and honest, Mangal can’t stand to injustice and is always vocal to react not only for unfairness to herself but also to others. Her helping nature to guide her juniors has won her many friends and well wishers in TT circle all over India. Magzmumbai wishes her all the best to succeed in her mission.