The Hindu : Sport / Table Tennis : Radhika to start an academy

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Wednesday, Mar 30, 2011
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Radhika to start an academy

Special Correspondent

Radhika.

KOCHI: A couple of decades ago, a small house near the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram, was abuzz with activity almost all through the day. A small table tennis camp was running there for years and K.R. Pillai, a Tamil Nadu and Kerala champion, introduced wide-eyed children to the push, smash and loop.

The centre had its limitations, though. There was not much space behind the lone table, so players were forced to go for close-to-the-table play. Not for them the defensive chop, a stroke played away from the table.

Despite the limitations, Pillai's daughter, Ambika Radhika, went on to become the senior National champion in 1996, the only player from Kerala to win the title. She was also the India No. 1 for three years.

Radhika, now Radhika Suresh after marriage, has decided to give something back to the game which has taken her places.

In dad's memory

“I've decided to start a table tennis academy, in memory of my father, at the Kadavanthra YMCA,” said the 38-year-old, a Deputy Manager with the Indian Oil Corporation in Kochi. “It will be jointly with the YMCA.”

The long-term camp, said Radhika, will begin on April 4, along with YMCA's summer camp. It will be open to beginners and upcoming players.

The YMCA camp ends in May and the academy, which will be open to under-13 players, will train boys and girls every day from the first week of June.

“The primary focus will be to improve the quality and skills of players and produce more Kerala players at the National level,” said the Olympian, who is still a force to reckon with during her occasional visits to the State circuit.

“This will be a small tribute from my side to the game that has made me what I am,” said Radhika.

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