TEARS OF JOY: The new National Champion, Manmeet Singh, weeps in joy after winning the men’s singles title in the National Table Tennis Championships at Hyderabad.

By Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: He was not mentally prepared for the occasion; Something that had taken place in his personal life was bothering him, as the top seed started his campaigning to claim the men’s singles title for the first time in the 50th Golden Jubilee National Table tennis Championships at Hyderabad.

That he ultimately triumphed over S. Sriram in the final, to realize a long cherished desire of winning the men’s crown, was more due to his willpower and staying ability rather than anything else.

‘And, after winning the final the 27 year old New Bank of India officer from New Delhi Manmeet Singh said: “I dedicate my title to my father, my family and to a very special friend,” It was one of the proudest moments for the former Junior National Champion, He had to wait for ten long years before inscribing his name in the Maharja Pithapurman Trophy, the symbol of supremacy in men’s singles in the National table tennis.

After his triumphant return from the Deccan Capital, a beaming Manmeet said, “I was not so confident even after I had made the semifinals.” He said he had no support in team events where Delhi almost certain finalists in the past, finished a poor seventh Manmeet said in open events, Arup Basak the reigning National Junior champion, gave him a tough fight. “The lad from Bengal has bright future,” added the new National champion.

Talking about his quarterfinal encounter with another junior, Ganesh Kundu, Manmeet said the glare from the lights fixed above the tables were coming straight into his eyes while he was serving. “Service is my strong point and I got annoyed when most points on my service,” said Manmeet adding that he was not happy with the fighting arrangements,

In his semifinal match against Sujay Gohorpade, Manmeet recalled that the Maharashtrian began beautifully attacking on both flanks. Manmeet then changed his tactics, he moved away from the table and rolled the ball flatter. It worked, said the champion.

On his final with former champion Sriram, Manmeet said he preferred him to Kamlesh Mehta as the latter has played so many finals and was more experienced. “I was determined to win this time and avenge my defeat at the hands of Sriram in the North Zone championships at Jalandhar couple of months ago. Manmeet had then lost in straight games.

The Mahasja Pitahpuram Trophy will have a special place in my house, Manmeet said. This was one title he had been after, ever since he graduated to the senior section ten years ago, after having claimed the National junior boys crown in the 1976 Nationals. He then beat Suman Gang

Recalling that junior final, Manmeet said that it was the turning point in his career as he beat Sanjiv Kapoor and Sriram en route to the final.

He recalled three matches in his chequered career which he could not forget. The first was his victory over teammate Sudhir Phadke in the 1979 Nationals. Phadke was in top form that year and was the top seed. I had just graduated into the senior section and I beat him in the pre quarters. Manmeet also has nostalgic memries of his extended encounter with C na’s Chen Long can the second end in the ninth Asian Championships in Nigata last May. “I was down two games and railed to draw evel.” he recalled, “But I failed to press home the advantage and lost. I felt angry and started hitting blindly,” he said, the third memorable encounter was his triumph over former Commonwealth Games champion A. Musa of Nigeria in the 1983 World Championships.

Manmeet Singh is a temperamental player. It was often said that he was a victim of his own temperament and had put the organizers and even the Table Tennis Federation of India in an embarrassing position with his tantrums. But now he has turned a new leaf and is more mature.

‘Among Indian players, Manjit Dua and Venugopal Chandraskehar the two former national champions have a special place in Manmeets heart, “Manjit used to practice with me regularly to get me into the National team” recalled the champion,

Manmeet who played football as a schoolboy before taking to table tennis, is also a keen snooker player. He had won a tournament when NTPC his former employers organized an inter unit tournament.

Khanna’s Eligibility In Question

NEW DELHI: Has Surinder Khanna regained eligibility to play for Delhi in Ranji Trophy Championship this season?

No, as faras transfer rules of the Board of Control for Cricket in India are concerned.

Surender, who has regained top batting form recently, had applied for transfer from Delhi to Bengal some time ago. The permission was granted both by Delhi and Districts Cricket Association (DDCA) and the Board.

Former India opening batsman, Surender was to play for Bengal. But he did not play for certain reasons.

Article extracted from this publication >>  March 3, 1989