After my comeback to competitive Table Tennis in the year 2017, I participated in 4 National Masters TT Championship, One National Games Championship and One South Asian TT Championship at Colombo, besides State Championship and State Ranking TT Tournaments in Maharashtra. And, most of these tournaments earned me medals. But, it was always my wish to participate in the World Veterans’ TT Championship. Last time I could not participate in Las Vegas due to domestic reason, but this time I was in all preparedness to play this competition, which was to be held between 15th January and 21st January 2023 at Muscat.
The preparations began immediately after National Championship in Srinagar, which concluded at end of August 2022. So, for little more than 4 months I focussed on my exercises with My Physio Dr. Yuvraj Singh and his associate Masumi who helped me to avoid injuries. It was a well planned programme twice a week at his clinic. The other 2-3 days a week I practiced my game, playing 15 games continuously, to develop stamina for this championship.
For any big tour your travel arrangements should also be well planned. My friend Prakash Kelkar suggested me the name Travscope Holidays , New Delhi, as he had good experience of travelling with them with suitable package in the past. I only opted for Muscat, instead of Muscat+ Dubai, as I had visited Dubai in the recent past. So, there was less worry about our stay in Muscat , internal travel to and fro hotel- stadium and sight seeing on the rest day including breakfast at the hotel and dinner at nearby restaurant ‘Taste of India’. Most of the staff at this 5 star hotel ‘Royal Tulip’ and at ‘Taste of India’ were Indians and they looked after us very well.
The representative of Travscope Mr. Jagdeep who was with usin the same hotel, took very good care of the entire group. Only suggestion to them is that the return journey booking should not be on the final day of the tournament, as many Indian players this time had reached the final stage of their respective events. And hence, vacating room in the morning , playing their final matches till evening and then caching the return flight at mid night without rest, was very hectic for those especially above 60 years of age.
The venue of the tournament was 13 kms away from our hotel, but there was well organised bus service every hour from morning till evening to and from hotel and tournament venue. And, it took just 20 minutes to reach this place.For the first time I was exposed to such a big tournament with 100 tables for matches and another 20 tables for practice in a huge hall, which could have been further extended to accommodate more tables if required. So, playing in such conditions itself was a great experience. The tables were good and so was the proper lighting arrangement and perfect flooring, to meet the World Championship standard. Above all, the matches were conducted as per schedule. Thanks to the latest technology.We had to use the barcode on our badge for scanning, to know the schedule of our next matches and table number.
During my qualifying league matches I met players from different countries like Germany, USA, Japan, Ukraine, Poland &CZE. After qualifying for main draw in Singles, I first played against an attacking player with a pen holder grip Mr.Hiro Tachikawa from Japan, in a well contested match that stretched to five games before winning. However, in Pre quarter finals I lost to ASI Sayed Ali Asg from Iran, who played with slow inverted rubbers on both the sides. There was some confusion, understanding his returns and by the time I tackled his return, it was all over for me. A good lesson to learn, – ‘How to play against the slow inverted rubbers’. Luck was however on my side in Men’s Doubles, partnering Pinakin Sampat. As both of us use minimum top spin, it wasn’t difficult for us to tackle various players in opposition using anti spin rubbers. Our combination really worked very well to win Gold for India. It was a dream come true for me, which cannot be explained in words.
During the course of this competition, I came across many well wishers. The first one was my hotel neighbour Prasad Dunakhe from Pune who came at a right time to advise me in my first main draw match against Japan player. Prasad was there for my crucial doubles matches and even shot videos, besides offering tips. His wife Madhuri, My former Jaipur Nationals doubles partner Shivanand Kundaje, his wife Leena and many others were always there to ecourage me during my matches. They were very much sure that I would bring at least one gold medal. Thanks for their support. We all had become good friends during National Championship at Srinagar 4 months ago, when my wife had also accompanied me.
So, all these well wishers were like my extended family. And, how can I forget our Ace Photographer TT friend Prasad Naik, who not only clicked good action photos, but was also there to advise, whenever he was free. I am thankful to my doubles partner Pinakin Sampat and was happy to see him win a silver in Mixed doubles with his partner from Japan. What is to be appreciated is that he played his back to back matches without any rest in the finals. I was also happy to see the achievements of my friends Yogesh Desai and Mangal Saraf from Mumbai winning Gold for India in their Singles and Doubles events respectively. It was bad luck of our Prakash Kelkar to lose in Quarterfinals of main draw. He however won the Consolation Men’s 65+ Doubles along with Percy Mehta.
During our Doubles Final match against Poland and Cze pair, there was good support coming from friends like Jayant Kulkarni , Neeta Kulkarni , Sanjay Mehta, Dr. Anagha Joshi and others. I am also thankful to all the family members of my partner Pinakin Sampat, who were all there to cheer for us during all our doubles matches. A gentleman dressed in traditional Omani attire, gave me a big surprise. Prior to my finals, we were watching a semi finals doubles match of Anagha and Shilpa playing against Denmark women’s pair. I heard his comments in Marathi. So, out of curiosity I asked him whether he knows Marathi? He was all smiles and introduced himself as Dr. Narayan . He also introduced his wife Dr. Devyani a Gynaecologist , saying that she was a Maharashtrian. Dr. Nayayan an Orthopaedic surgeon had migrated to Muscat 34 years ago and had served for Military Hospital, Oman. His wife also served as a Gynaecologist there. Now, both are doing private practice. Both of them had played hosts for Dr. Anagha and others during this tournament, being close family friends. Dr. Narayan lived in Sion and his wife lived in Mahim prior to their moving to Muscat.
During our Doubles matches, I had misplaced my Bat , which was found at the certificate issuing counter later. But, for that one match my friend from Pune Shrisaila came to my rescue. He offered me his spare bat and with that we won our crucial qualifying doubles against the German pair. Later, while talking to R. Shrisaila about his own experiences, he pointed out the moment when he faced a Chinese opponent playing with a long handled bat. “Though his ply was okay, he played with worn out Pimpled rubbers. I don’t know how it was allowed. I did not object, but did point out to him. After all I was representing India and didn’t want to make an issue. But, I was satisfied with my performance in that match,” said Shrisaila.
I always enjoy talking to multi talented people. One such couple I met on this tour was Dr. Ashutosh Kelkar a Surgeon and Dr. Sujata Kelkar a Gynacologist. Both of them being music lovers, entertained us before dinner playing mouth organs.It was a real treat after a tiring day. They were simply wonderful. Dr. Ashutosh had a terrific sense of humour. On the rest day, we were taken around the city for sight seeing by our tour operators Travscope. Thanks to Jagdeep and Sushil for arranging this trip. Really enjoyed in the company of Prakash, Rajendra, Shivanand, Leena, Prasad Madhuri, Shravani, Sunita, Swati, Suhas and others during sight seeing and daily breakfast in our hotel and dinner at Taste of India. There were many from India for this big competition, who lived in our hotel and one of them was a renowned National Shooting Coach Mr. Sumeet Sanghavi, who also played TT very well.
At this five star hotel, we had a very comnfortable stay which was made possible by some of our Indian staff at the reception and room service. Special Thanks to Janhavi and Sanjana from Ratnagiri Maharashtra. At the roof top hotel, my friend Prasad Dunakhe introduced me to another girl Rose from Darjeeling, who was more than happy to serve us Special Masala tea, while we enjoyed capturing the sun set in our cameras.
What is worth mentioning is that after my return to hotel on the last day, I saw that real happiness on their faces, while handling that Gold medal won by me. Before leaving the hotel that night for airport I brought a pack of Dates chocolates from a shop across the road and distributed to them. They were all there to say Good Bye to us. I am glad that out of those six gold medals won by India in this World Championship, that one medal was won by me. By the way, for the first time in World Veterans’ TT Championship, India has won so many medals ( i.e. 6 gold, 6 silver and 13 Bronze) . Mera Bharat Mahaan!