It took you 11 years to become a national champion. What went through your mind when you kept on losing year after ‘year for 10 years?
I have been playing this game for the past 16 years. I topped as a junior for three years and started playing in the senior national championship 11 years ago. I failed to win the title though I played in 10 national championships. This year was my 11th attempt, Though I had very good chances of winning the title earlier, somehow I couldn’t, About three years ago I got disgusted and started to think that I would never become a national champion.
Then what made you click this year?
I couldn’t understand what was wrong with me when it came to winning the nationals. I could win every other tournament in this country but not the nationals. In fact, this time when I came to participate in the nationals, 1 was not mentally prepared. I was troubled by a matter in my personal life. So I had the remotest chance of winning the championship, In fact, I thought I wouldn’t be able to go beyond quarter finals. But when I entered the finals, I knew that with only one match to go this could be the long-awaited victory.
‘Who inspired or coached you in the game?
I started playing table tennis after watching my brother Jaspal Singh. He was just a club level player. I used to practice with him. That is all. I never had a coach.
From your experience, could you tell us what makes a champion?
If you want to be a champion or a top player you must first realize that there is no shortcut to success. You should keep on trying again and again even if you keep on losing. Look at my career. In spite of losing continuously I never gave up the game. If you lose and say you are not going to win ‘and wind up the game, you will never become a champion. Tell yourself you will be a champion one day and you will. Didn’t 1?
How far is suppleness important to this game? And how does one go about making one’s body supple?
This game demands hundred percent suppleness. I train by running four rounds of 400 metresand also sprinta few hundred metres. I also do setups, skipping and a few other exercises to promote brisk movement.
What role does the equipment especially the racket, play in the success of a table tennis player?
If you are going to play with Indian rackets, let me tell, you are not going to reach anywhere in this game. If [start playing with Indian made rackets, I’m sure to Jose in the second round itself because they cannot provide spin. So all of us use Japanese rubbers. And Japanese equipment.
Soon after your return from the World Championship at Dortmund you stated that Sweden’s success had been due to 1 glue applied to the racket…
Yes. The Swedes came up with a new glue called “Tip Top.” It is a German glue and they apply this glue below the rubber of the racket, This increased the speed of the all. The speed is so much that the ball shoots after landing on the table. The Chinese couldn’t do anything because they play from close to the table unlike the Europeans who play away from it, Earlier when the Chinese would get a loose ball they would finish it but now, with the ball coming so fast they are not able to deflect it to the comers.
Have you brought this glue? Is It costly?
Yes. One tin costs Rs 190 and lasts only for 10 to 15 applications. I don’t use it every day since I might exhaust my quota ver) soon.
Don’t you think the International Federation should ban this glue since it provides unfair advantage to a player?
No. Most of the players use Japanese glue, But if a player uses the German glue you can’t stop him. Besides how can you prove that he is using it?
Are a lot of Indians using it?
Yes, I am using it and so is Sunil Babras. However if you use the glue but don’t practice regularly with it, you will not be able to control the ball.
Why do you think our players have not been able to make their presence felt at the international level?
It’s simple. We don’t get enough international exposure. Unless we play against the ‘Swedes and the Chinese frequently how are we going to win gold medals only when we go to play international tournament are we able to understand the different types of styles until we get acquainted with these styles we won’t be able to reach anywhere,
(On your trips abroad have you ever discussed your game with other top foreign players?
No, I have troubled many world champions. There is hardly any North Korean that I have not troubled, [have even beaten Japanese and European players. But I know that till I get consistent expose with these player, I won’t be able to become a good player.
The recent international table tennis ranking placed you at 151. How do you feel about this?
I am not interested in the rank 151. ‘What is the use of being ranked 151? Only if Lam ranked among the first 20 or 30s it any good. But we have no choice, To go up in the ranking one should get more international exposure. We only play the World Championship and that is why we are ranked so low.
So you are terribly disappointed at the amount of international exposure you have got?
Yes. I always wanted to do well at the international level but I have not been given enough chance. We Indians have the caliber to win, These Swedens and the Chinese are beatable. If you trouble them they will get beaten. Maybe in the beginning we might lose to them two or three times, but ‘we can catch up with them, I am ready to pay my own money and go abroad to play, yet the Central Government does not give clearance.
Don’t you think the introduction of foreign coaches would help us?
Yes, it would. But whoever you invite whether its a European coach or a Chinese one, he should be able to coach the players for five to six years. The problem is that if you go and invite a European coach today and then after a few days replace him with a Chinese coach, it would only harm the players. The style and approach of a European coach is different from that of a Chinese and finally we will not be able to reach anywhere or grasp anything from their coaching.
Currently a controversy is raging regarding the institutions which employ table tennis players. As you know, the Table Tennis Federation would like these players to represent their States in the nationals instead of their employers. The Federation in fact, would like to ban the institutions from the nationals.
What do you think?
Institutions must not be prevented from participating in the nationals. My career depends on my institution which has given me a job. If I represent my institution and do well, I will be benefited in many ways. But if I represent my State and do well they are not going to give me back anything. So what is the point? It is better to do well for my institution and get back something in return from any job. After all it is my institution which is giving me my bread and butter, not the State,
There was a recent report stating that though there are a lot of sponsors coming to organize tournaments, players are not coming forward to participate
Participation of a national player in three championships is compulsory. Why should I go to Meghalaya, traveling by train for 50 hours and then play? The sponsors are giving money to the organizers they are not paying our airfare.
So why should we play in different zones, tiring ourselves with long journeys?
Most of the former players who have retired have not come back to the game to help youngsters. Why?
Why should they? What is the incentive they are going to get? See, tomorrow if I stop playing and start helping juniors what do I get back? You don’t get your bread and butter merely from name and fame.
Being the National champion, what is your advice to upcoming youngsters?
Losing matches is a part of the game. Perseverance and dedication are a must in this game. I lose about five to six matches every year. but that doesn’t mean Lam nota ‘good player. I am No. 1 in the country but you can’t be supreme, You have to lose sometimes. Moreover youngsters should try to get excellent initial coaching.
Do you think that the initial coaching now given to youngsters is not excellent?
The NIS coaches are a waste. They go and do that course for six months or one year and come out as coaches. They don’t know anything. They just know the theory. They won’t be able to play with the players and tell them how to play. I think there should be a coaching system for the Indian ‘coaches also.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 15, 1989
