We find ourselves halfway through the commemoration as 2021 is coming to an end, while a new page of Ping Pong Diplomacy has just begun. “Ping Pong Diplomacy can help to bring down barriers and promote understanding between individuals. I felt very honoured and excited that table tennis was used as the catalyst to build […]
The Recognitions were awarded by the ITTF and ITTF Foundation at the Peace Through Sport Dinner Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Ping Pong Diplomacy in Houston, Texas. “Peace is not only the absence of conflict. We would like to recognise the significant role of the five Member Associations in Ping Pong Diplomacy during the last […]
Chandra, a fighter forever
“Life is like a table tennis game. It’s about finding the right balance between deft touches and powerful smashes,” former national champion Venugopal Chandrasekhar once told TOI during a conversation. It summed up his life a fighter on and off court battling till the last point. On Wednesday though, the 63-year-old’s willpower was not enough to fight off Covid the ace player and coach fell to the pandemic that has wreaked havoc. Chandra is survived by his wife Mala and son Sanjay.
Cricket was Chandra’s first love but a head injury while fielding at the slips made him take up table tennis. At 12, Chandra enrolled in the now-defunct Emesor Sports Club in Adyar and his rise in the sport was swift. In 1970, Chandra became the Tamil Nadu subjunior champion. Three years later, he not only became the state junior champion but also made the quarters of the Nationals.