Former international Table Tennis player Vilas Menon is not amongst us today. But, his friends and well wishers still recall his memories. Every year, one of his admirer Ramnath Sharma reminds magzmumbai about his birth anniversary on 18th October and this prompted me to write about Vilas. Yesterday, on the eve of his birth anniversary, spoke to his wife Renu, who was more than happy to recall all old memories , including the first bronze medal Vilas won for India along with Manjit Dua, his doubles partner in Asian TT Championship in 1976.
Vilas Menon in action (Year 1976)
Unfortunately, Renu is not keeping well and is undergoing periodic treatment in hospital. Yet, being a very strong woman, having faced tough challenges especially after the death of Vilas, has been doing lot of good work, which her late husband did, towards promotion of table tennis at the grass root level.
It may be recalled that , Vilas had attained that kind of celebrity status during 70s which no other sportsperson from India other than our cricketers experienced those days. Besides Ramnath Sharma another ex RBI TT player and an old friend of Vilas , Late Girish Vagal always recalled their good old days in the company of Vilas and some of his memorable matches, which they never missed, whether they were played at University Stadium, Khar Gymkhana or Matunga Gymkhana.
Actually people from TT field remembering their favourite player’s birth anniversary on social media, so many years after his untimely demise in 2002 , itself speaks very high about that person called Vilas Menon the legend of TT.
Kapil Dev ( L) and Late Salim Durani (R) with Renu Menon, during the exhibition TT matches in memory of Late Vilas Menon.
For the information of new generation of table tennis, Vilas Menon had many well wishers and friends not only from India but also from other countries. It was not only limited to the game of Table Tennis, but also other games . Former India Cricket captain Kapil Dev, Late Legendary cricketer Salim Durani were always there to celebrate the birth anniversary of Late Vilas, whenever they received invitation from Renu Menon, to play exhibition matches to promote the game of table tennis. . In the field of Table tennis former international Niraj Bajaj was his good friend. When Vilas was hospitalized and later recovering from his illness Niraj Bajaj used to visit him and his family regularly.
According to Renu Menon wife of Vilas Menon ( also a former National level TT player) , Niraj stood like a real friend in need to help the family. “He is still in touch with us . Very Soft spoken and A real gem of a person,” says Renu while praising Niraj.