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Full of determination

Physically challenged Mukherjee is a man with nerves of steel

PHOTO: M. MOORTHY

COMMITTED Gritty customer.

People like J. Mukherjee belong to a bolder generation of athletes. Despite physical disability, he has the heart to paddle, shrugging off heavy odds. And he is at ease playing with one hand.

A member of the Power Sports Control Board Table Tennis team, Mukherjee, who represents Corporate Centre (Delhi), won the singles and doubles title at the Power Grid inter-region Table Tennis Tournament held in Tiruchi recently.

Exposure

Raised in Loktak, a remote place in Manipur, Mukherjee got into the sport at the age of six and his regular participation at the All India Inter-School Championships gave him the much needed exposure.

And his move to Delhi looked a good launching pad as he got a chance to play with seeded players. Interestingly, all through his career he has never played in the physically handicapped (PH) category, although his coaches have advised him to do so.

"I could have won many laurels both at the national and international levels if I had chosen to play in the PH category. But I never consider myself a physically challenged person. My family has always stood by my side and encouraged me to play in the general category and I consider myself lucky in that aspect," he says.

Consistent

During the days when he played at the junior level, Mukherjee had been a consistent performer ranked among the top 10.

Ironically, his selection in the power sector was not on sports quota, but still he was able to match with the best and win various inter-power sector championships. He has been adjudged `Man of the Tournament' on a couple of occasions.

"Table tennis is all about hand and eye co-ordination along with precision in foot movements. It is just a matter of regular practice to attain perfection in techniques," he says.

No doubt, Mukherjee has the potential. He is also equipped with the skills to trouble even top players. But why has he confined himself only to the inter- power sector tournaments? "I know that I could have gone the distance as my company is also of great support. For some reason or the other I started playing only in such tournaments. But I don't regret my decision, as I am proud to be a member of power sector family," he says.

G. PRASAD

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