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Tops in topspin
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If something is not done quickly to sustain table tennis financially, an emerging crop of good players may lose out
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Ranjitha: climbing and more — Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.
KARNATAKA HAS a hoary past in table tennis with stars such as Nagaraj, Kabad Jayant Sai Kumar, Ramesh Babu, Vasanth Bharadwaj, Chetan Baboor, and C.R. Anand making an indelible impression on the National table tennis while on the distaff side, Karnataka's contribution has been rather been patchy.
There were top players such as Usha Sunderraj, the only National women's champion from the State who dominated the game in her era, followed by Lakshmi Karanth, the winsome young lass then, who went up to No.3 rank on the National scene in the 1980s. The last success story from Karnataka was Archana Vishwanath who called it quits f few years ago. Her crowning glory was when she became the National runner-up in the 1993-94 season.
Young hopefuls from then on had remained virtually empty, but there are few young hopefuls such as V. Ranjitha and B.M. Ashwini, who hold the promise to fill the void. Of the two, the 16-year-old Ranjitha is showing far more focus and is determined to make her mark on the National scene like her illustrious predecessors. Ranjitha has the right approach to the game and is among the very few players in the State who can attack with zest. She carries a strong topspin and is very fluent with forehand drives.
Impressive climb
Ranjitha's climb in the game has been very impressive ever since she took up the sport as a six-year-old. She first trained under the former international, Vasanth Bhardawaj before shifting camp to T.S. Ram Kumar, the former State champion. It was Vasanth's sound training in basics and Ram Kumar's able guidance that had helped refine her game to a higher level.
Right from 2002 till now, in whichever section Ranjitha played, she emerged a champion. As a cadet and sub-junior player, she had remained unbeaten for four years and became the State's youngest women's champion in 2000. She also made her impact on the National scene in the cadet girl and sub-junior girls sections and rose to No.7 in the country in 1999. She had led the Karnataka squad in the sub-junior and junior girls sections at the Nationals.
She and Ashwini maintain a healthy rivalry at the State level, and for a State that is struggling to find new talent, that augurs well for the future. Many discerning followers of the game regard Ranjitha's style of play, with accent on attack, as refreshing. The women's matches basically revolve around the block and push routine. For a youngster to go on the offensive and revel in playing away from the table, it is certainly a marked departure from the routine. But Ranjitha could do well to improve her fitness level.
After maintaining a consistent form over the last four years, Ranjitha has trained her guns on making a name for herself in the women's section. She had already won one a State ranking event in the women's section and three junior titles. As a first year PU student of the Shree Bhagawan Mahaveer Jain College, where the management is bent on encouraging sport, Ranjitha gets a good support to pursue her academics and career in table tennis. "I am grateful to the College. They have given me ample opportunity to play and they hold special classes whenever I miss out on classes while on tour," says Ranjitha. On her future goals, the youngster says: "I want to represent the country and win a medal at an international meet and become a reputed woman player in the country."
Clear goal
Her goal is clear, she has the determination, and loads of talent, but lacks financial support. Her father Vijaydev explains the cost factor that is needed to sustain her career.
"Given the standard in the State, Ranjitha needs lot of exposure and should play more in zonal and national events. But every time, we send her out it costs a packet. It costs nearly Rs. 70,000 to Rs. One lakh to keep her on the circuit. Individually, we cannot sustain that for a very long period and someone should help with a suitable sponsorship," says Vijaydev. Few Banks such as Canara Bank and Union Bank of India offer scholarship to young players, but so far that had been limited to boys. He feels that they should open up for girls while supporting the right talent.
Some problems
Another drawback in Karnataka is the lack of a good table tennis academy such as the TTFI and SAI run-ones in Hyderabad, and Kolkata. The very presence such training institutions would mitigate the hardships of the players who go on a wild goose to find the right training schools.
But all the above issues could be properly addressed with help of the state Association, which should play a much larger role in harnessing the young talent, grooming players and give them the right exposure. Only with such collective support, players such as Ranjitha could bring laurels to the State.
KALYAN ASHOK
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