THE passing away of former international paddler Nagpur’s Meena Parande has left the table tennis fraternity and the game poorer.

Meenatai, as she was fondly known in the table tennis circle, left for heavenly abode at the ripe age of 92.

Meenatai changed the fabric of the game in the early 1950s and dominated the circle for the next few decades with her exploits all over the country and abroad.

Those were the days when girls were barred from venturing out of their kitchens, leave aside playing any sport. But Meenatai got full support from her family, specially from her grandmother who encouraged her to take to table tennis. Her father late DK Parande, who was a barrister and was an excellent cricketer and tennis player himself, backed Meenatai to chase her dream.

Born on December 12, 1931, Meenatai learnt the tricks of trade very quickly. She started dominating the scene by the time she turned 20 and started showing her exploits in late 1940s.

Meenatai had exceptional skills. She was quick in her reflexes. Her supple wrist work at times foxed her opponents who envied the beautiful looking paddler.

In early 50s, the national scene was dominated by Syeed Sultana who was invincible winning national titles every single year from 1949 to 1953. But Sultana’s citadel was breached by Meenatai when she stunned the much-experienced player in 1954 for her first national championship in Baroda. The next year Sultana avenged her defeat at Guntur, but Meenatai was determined as she snatched the next year’s trophy at Saharanpur in 1956.

Meenatai, who was as beautiful as her game, went on to win two more national titles in 1958 (Ahmedabad) and 1959 (Calcutta).

Meenatai represented Maharashtra from 1953 to 1958 and then played for Indian Railways from 1959 to 1965.

Immediately after Meenatai dethroned Sultana from the top in 1954, she was rewarded with a place in the Indian team in World Championships at England in 1954 and at Japan in 1956. She became the first Maharashtrian to represent India at the Worlds.

Meenatai, who took table tennis lessons from Mr Chandorkar of Nagpur, also won accolades in Singapore (1954), Bangkok (1955), Vietnam (1961) and Bombay (1963) in Asian Table Tennis Championships.

Meenatai, who was ranked third in Asia in 1954, also toured Pakistan and Sri Lanka and returned with bagful of medals. Her cupboard overflowed with hundreds of trophies and medals as Meenatai decided to call it quits in mid 60s.

After retiring from Indian Railways, Meenatai coached several players from 1965 to 1985. Dr Charudatta Apte, Rajeev Bodas, Suhas Kulkarni, Ajay Shidhaye, Neela Kulkarni, Nandini Kulkarni and Sunanda Kane were the lucky few to get training from the legend.

Meenatai enjoyed her retired life by taking interest in yoga. She visited many Yoga-Ashrams at Munger in Bihar, Yogniketan in Hrishikesh, Arvind Ashram in Pondicherry, Vivekananda Kendra in Kanyakumari, Raman Mahershi’s Ashram and learnt various techniques and asanas.

She attended Vipashana shibirs (camp) in Igatpuri and rendered her services there for around six months.

Meenatai carried table tennis flag with aplomb for years. She was a paddler par excellence who will be remembered for making the game popular all over.

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