Age is just a word: Grandparents play table tennis like pros

The 25th National Veteran Table Tennis Championships being held at Sawai Mansingh Indoor Stadium in Jaipur was a new experience for many as they saw players between 40 and 80 years of age played it out, with their grandchildren supporting them.

The veteran players moved with confidence albeit slightly slow. The volleys were engaging and its was engrossing.    

More than 100 players from all over the country are participating in the veteran tourney that kicked off on Tuesday and will continue till February 18. There will be team games and individual games, and the best part is that the winners get to participate in the veteran world championships to be held in Las Vegas.  

The cynosure of all eyes is the group of four elderly women players from Gujarat; all above 75 years of age. Three of them are retired government officials and the passion of their lives is table tennis.   

Mehrunisa B Bhaiji, a retired officer from the statistics department of Gujarat government, has been a sportsperson all through her life. “I have played played volleyball at the state and national level. My passion for table tennis developed when Gujarat government gave us gym facility. People ask me how can you play a game while we cannot walk, I tell them its not easy, I have practiced hard over years for this.”

Kokila Ben Ghiya, a retired gazetted officer from Gujarat, played two matches in the opening team events on Tuesday. “The high point of my life is getting an award from Narendra Modi at the Khel Mahakumbh in 2011-12. I stood first twice in the above 60 plus category,” she says.

“I used to play in college, but marriage put the game in the sidelines. From 2003 I got back to playing. Women have bhajan mandalis, we have a table tennis team of elderly ladies and take part in tournaments.I have got an award at the team event in Puna,” said Badrikaben Pandya.

NEVER TOO OLD

Also participating in 85-year-old Ramakant Chatterjee from West Bengal. His steps are slow, but the flick of the wrist shows the long years of practice. “I have played all through college. I have worked in Rourkela Steel Plant and played in inter steel tournaments.”