Just as Bana ‘Baba’ Ravinder has a way with children in basketball, having shaped several international hoopsters, so does Maduri Venugopal in table tennis. The mild-mannered mentor’s mantra is simple: ensure his wards think positive each time they take up position in a contest.
Since his trainees are little ones, they trust him soon enough and are ready to follow his instructions to the letter. Initially he may do the thinking for them but they become independent subsequently, able to fight their own battles. What boosts their morale perhaps is that he is always by the court-side, backing their every endeavour.
Their performances in the first two tournaments in the new state held so far, only prove the point. Nikhat Banu’s reign as undisputed queen of women’s table tennis continued. Having outgrown the youth category, the Loyola Academy, Alwal, business management student held the opposition at bay with a fair measure of comfort. Her Gujarati Seva Mandal (GSM) academy team-mate Monica Manohar acquitted herself honourably, reaching the semi-finals of both events.
“GSM President Ghanshyambhai B Patel and Secretary Janak Brahmbhatt have always been supportive. The sincerity of their encouragement is evident with the facilities they never fail to provide,” explained Venugopal of the steady flow of fresh table tennis talent from the academy, tucked away in a lane off RP Road in Secunderabad.
Holding out promise has been N. Anjali, who won the cadet girls (under 12 years) titles at both the competitions. The sixth standard student of Geetanjali Devshala, Balamrai set out into the sport four years ago, but left in between with a neck problem. Soft surfaces on both sides of her racquet power the southpaw’s attacking game.
Runner up to Anjali in the St. Pauls High School (SPHS) event, N. Bhaavitha had also reached the semis of the St. Pauls Academy (SPA) tournament. The Geetanjali Devashray fifth class student learnt her craft from T. Nagaraj last year and uses anti-spin rubber.
In the sub-junior girls section, Varuni Jaiswal won the SPHS title, while G. Pranitha emerged runner-up in both tourneys. “Pranitha, a Secunderabad Public School, West Marredpally student, despite moments of doubt, never says no to practice,” noted Venugopal. Ayushi Ghia, bronze medallist at last year’s cadet Nationals in Ajmer, went down fighting in the quarter-finals.
Among the boys, N. Sudarshan and A. Vishal made the semi-finals of both events, while Saurab Manohar made the last four in the SPA tournament.
