Eversince, I started playing competitive Table Tennis in local tournaments and State and Zonal tournaments, from 1977 , KRV Rao was always there at the Refereee’s table, drawing the fixuture and making announcement of the matches. He was a perfect gentleman, a good administrator and a great friend of all the players. Now, with his sad demise, Table Tennis players , especially in Mumbai and Maharashtra , have lost a good friend, philosopher and guide.
A very knoledgeble person that he was, KRV Rao was well versed with all the rules of table tennis and used to solve all the disputes related to the game, within minutes. His love for the game, had drawn him towards organisation of various TT events, hosted by clubs in Mumbai and all over Maharashtra. Mr. Rao worked at Glaxo Laboratories, Worli Office, from 8 am morning till 4 pm in the evening and later gave his evening time, till 11pm, to organise the TT matches.
Those days, the team matches used to start after 9 pm and get over as late as 11 or 11.30 pm. But, Mr. Rao as chief Referee, used to wait till the last point was played. On many occasions, whenever my team match used to get over late, Mr. Rao always gave me lift , as he used travel back home only in taxi upto Andheri, where he lived. So, he used to drop me at Irla, which was close to my residence in Juhu.
Even otherwise, he was very helpful to players. I recall one such incident, when our India TT team player V Chandrashekhar was admitted to a reputed hospital in Chennai for knee operation. There was some neglect and Chandra developed some complications and needed further treatment, as his one part of the body paralysed. At that time, myself and few friends tok the initiative to send him immediate financial help, to face that difficult situation. Besides visiting all the clubs and offices in Mumbai, where there were TT players, we had approched Mr. Rao and his friend Mr. Lele from Glaxo for some collection of fund.
Though he was the last person we approached, he called me next day with a huge amount, which was almost one fifth of the overall collection from players. He too felt that the amount should reach Chandrashekhar faster. So, he also accompanied me to the nearest State bank branch to prepare a bank draft, which was sent to Chandra at the hospital address. Two days later, Rao called up over phone at my residence early in the morning, to inform me that there was a news in TOI, ‘Chandra thanking Mumbai TTplayers, for their fine gesture’. There are many such incidences, where Mr. Rao has helped other players like me to overcome the mistakes committed by us, especially during tense moments, while playing our match.
May his departed soul rest in peace.