Former international TT player Suhas Kulkarni, who was active with the game of Tale Tennis with coaching and active participation in the Veterans’ events at the national and international level, passed away last year on this day. He succumbed to Covid, which had taken many lives of people during the past two years. Today ( 4th April) being his first death anniversary, his friends and well wishers are remembering him with all good memories in his company for the past several years.
His regular partner Atul Parekh is missing him the most. Suhas was his regular practice partner of Atul at the PJ Hindu Gymkhana, where both of them played for past several years. While Atul played TT for his fitness, Suhas continued to participate in the Veterans; TT events at the local, national and international level.
Satish Kulkarni, elder brother of Suhas is also missing him the most. “Together, we have played many tournaments since our childhood. He inspired all of us in the family, to play TT in the Veterans events. We clashed against each other on several occasions and he always won those battles. It was very difficult to beat him. He had his class and never allowed his opponent to attack,” says Satish while praising his brother. Jayant Kulkarni, younger brother of Suhas recalled old memories of his childhood. “Those days, Suhas was studying his college and playing TT in Mumbai. He used to visit on weekends to Pune. During every visit, he used to carry either used bat or balls. I was then studying in school. Therefore, the used bats and balls he brought for us, encouraged us to play this game of Table Tennis.
Yogesh Desai former National level TT player and his partner in the last Veterans’ Nationals at Sonipat in 2020 says, “ TT Legend Suhas was my Doubles Partner, a close friend, an Unassuming Veteran National Champ with powerful crafty game and a thorough gentleman , perfect family person. He departed untimely last year on this day after fighting Covid 19. Together we won many Veteran National Team Gold Medals including the last at Sonipat.”
Ulhas Shirke also his team mate and doubles partner in the Veterans’
TT event at the Indore Nationals in 2019 says, “ Suhas was the best attacking player. Together we played for Maharashtra team in 2017 at Pune, in 2018 at Jaipur and 2019 at Indore and won Gold medal for Maharashtra team. We also won Gold for India Seniors at the South Asian Championship in Colombo, Sri Lanka in 2017. His brother Satish was also in our team. Both of them were so happy, when I won the crucial fifth match. Joined by their younger brother Jayant, they lifted me up after that victory. That was the most memorable moment in the company of Suhas. Last time I played against Suhas was at the Maharashtra State Veterans’ TT Championship final at Dombivali in January 2020. ”