Om Lotlikar, one of the finest Para TT Players from India died yesterday due to heart failure. He was 31. According to reliaable sources, Om was actually suffering from Dengue. When he had further complications after vomiting, he was admitted to nearby hospital, where he breathed his last.
Para TT Player Om Lotlikar
A finest Para TT player that he was, Om was two times Nationl Para TT Champiuon and had represented India at the Para Asian Games in 2014 and Para Asian Championship in 2017. He never restricted himself to Para Games, but played in the open TT tournaments at the state level, with a good show. He represented P.J. Hindu Gymkhana team in the first division TT league; as he was offered sports membership there. Earlier , he played in different clubs like YMCA and MLWB.
Om had lost his one hand in an unfortunate accident , when he was just 10 years old. But, with the encouragement received from his parents and especially his mother, Om focussed his attention on the game of table tennis and made good progress.
Om was finding it difficult to manage expenses of the game of table tennis at competitive level, when he graduated and was pursuing Law. At that time, his father worked for a courier company and mother served tiffin services from their house in Girgaon. But, Om was determined. With Collective help from well wishers, he managed his outside tournament expenses.
Renu Menon wife of Late Vilas Menon, was the first to recognise his talent and offered him financial help through Vilas Menon Memorial Trust. Soon, few well wishers from TT department of P.J. Hindu Gymkhana sponsored his Para Asian tournament and this boosted the morale of Om. He was also offered job by State Government at Thane. Thanks to Nitin Dolas TT player from Mantralaya for pursuing his recruitment process. Later, he joined Postal Department.
It is very sad to hear about his shocking end. On social media, Many TT lovers have expressed shock on his untimely death and have offered condolences to his family members.