THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The capital the other day played host to a gathering of yesteryear badminton players. From Kerala’s first state champion Balagopalan Thampi to two-time national champion U Vimal Kumar gathered at Sri Mulam Club here evoking memories from the past and creating new ones.
The function witnessed the reunion of around 35 former badminton players who aced in their game between the 1950s and 80s. Many of them had said goodbye to the courts years ago but their love for badminton was still very evident.
The names included Vimal, chief coach of the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy in Bengaluru, national champion and Arjuna Award winner George Thomas, 1958 Kerala state champion Thampi, national doubles champion Noreen Padua, state champions K Manikandan Nair and S Joy, national doubles champion J Sajit Edwin, all India university runner-up Asha Kumar, all India university winner Joseph Edison and former Kerala University champion Soorya Krishnamoorthy.
“We tried to track down as many players as possible who played during those years. We gathered to talk about badminton, the future of the game and to enjoy ourselves,” said Sajit, the organising secretary who is now a senior consultant surgeon at PRS Hospital.
“In those days, badminton was as popular as cricket and we played the game with great spirit. We were big rivals on the courts. But after the game, we were great friends. And we have managed to keep that friendship alive over all these years,” said Sajit.
“It is a nice occasion for me,” said Vimal, the former French Open champion who travelled all the way from Bengaluru for the get-together. “Everybody knows Krishnamoorthy as an artist today. But he used to promote badminton a lot back in the days. He used to conduct tournaments at VSSC where he was working then,” he said.
“Many of those players went on to become engineers and doctors. I would joke that I have so many friends who became doctors that if I fell sick, I would get medical attention free of cost,” said Vimal, one of the greatest player Kerala has produced and coach of country’s top woman shuttler Saina Nehwal.
A video presentation of the history of Kerala badminton from the 1940s till the present day was also done during the function.