TTFI pays its tributes to Chandra

 

 

New Delhi, May 12: The Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) president Dushyant Chautala and Secretary General Arun Kumar Banerjee paid rich tributes to former national champion V. Chandrasekhar, who passed away in a Chennai hospital where he was admitted last week for COVID-19 treatment.

 

President Dushyant Chautala said he lost a good friend, coach and administrator. “I was saddened to hear Chandra’s demise today. It was very unfortunate that table tennis has lost another person to the dreaded disease. We recently lost Suhas Kulkarni and now Chandra. He was a superb person, very soft-spoken and a good coach,” he said.

 

“I have heard about his playing days and I was told how competitive he had been and equally receptive to his opponents, and a friend on or off-court. We and all those who were close to him will miss his persona. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this difficult period,” he added.

 

Secretary General Banerjee, mourning the demise of the three-time national champion, said that table tennis has lost another legend.  “I have been privy to watching some of his matches and not only have we lost a good player but also a great friend. I met him last year during one of TTFI’s meetings and interacted with him. He came out as jovial as he was always in his younger days,” said Banerjee.

 

His predecessor, M.P. Singh, recalled his association with Chandra and said he lost a good friend. “I was fortunate to have watched some of his matches during my playing days. He was at his peak during the late ’70s and early ’80s. I had interacted with him elaborately during my stint as Secretary General and I can vouch that you can’t find a better person than him. We deeply mourn his death,” he said.

 

CEO Dhanraj Choudhary said he had known Chandrasekhar from his playing days as a match official and later as an office-bearer of TTFI. “I have seen him growing as a player with guts and character, and someone not afraid to take risks. But for his immobility after the fateful surgery in 1984, he could have reached greater heights. That day the sport lost a young player, who had won three national titles, on the operation table. Today, we have lost a good friend and a coach to COVID-19. TTFI mourns the irreparable loss and we pray to Almighty to give strength to his family,” he said.