T.R.N Swamy was well loved in the badminton fraternity by players and officials alike. The man who served the beautiful sport of Badminton for over 40 years, passed away on 21st January, 2017 after a prolonged fight with a blood clot in his brain.
Late TRN Swamy
Jitesh Padukone Shuttlers’ Academy with whom Swamy Sir was closely associated with, paid homage to the man by organizing a ‘masters’ team championship between Mumbai City and Mumbai Suburbs at North Indian Association badminton courts on Sunday, 5th February, 2017.
The tournament aptly titled ‘Clash of the Titans’ (COTT) was played for an impressive 2.5 feet tall T.R.N Swamy Memorial Trophy. The captains Gautam Ashra (Mumbai City) and Sanjeev Mahajan (Mumbai Suburbs) were given the task of coming up with crack combinations in the 45+ Men’s Doubles, 50+ Mens’ Doubles, 60 + Men’s Doubles, 40+ Mixed Doubles and 45+ Mixed Doubles in a best of 5 encounter.
Winners of the T.R.N Swamy Memorial badminton Tournament pose for a photo together.
Top veteran players like Mayur Tawade, Bhushan Akut, P. M. Bala, Sailesh Daga, Hubert Miranda, Gautam Ashra, Ashok Sharma, Jatin Agarwal, Deanne Rodrigues, Vilas Kuwale and Naheed Diwecha among others, featured in the tournament.
The suburban team clinched the first two matches 50+ Men’s Doubles and 40+ Mixed Doubles but the City team came roaring back winning the next two ie; 45+ Mens Doubles and 45+ Mixed Doubles to bring equalization to the tie. Fittingly, it was up to the oldest stalwarts of both teams to play the decider match; the 60+ Men’s Singles. Though the City captain Gautam Ashra tried his best, the experienced Suburban pair of Hubert Miranda and Ashok Sharma prevailed to clinch the tie 3-2 in favour of the Suburbanites.
The occasion was highlighted when the Guest of Honour and international badminton star Ajay Jayaram released the official magazine of Padukone Shuttlers’ Academy, aptly titled “Guts & Glory”.
The magazine showcased the GMBA District Championship jointly organized by Padukone Shuttlers’ Academy and North Indian Association a few months ago along with some hard hitting articles by badminton and sports stalwarts.
Speaking on the occasion, Jitesh Padukone, Managing Trustee and Chief Coach of the academy said, “Swamy Sir was very dear to all of us. We plan make this tournament bigger and an annual one involving more districts. Also the magazine Guts & Glory will be an excellent vehicle for badminton stalwarts to put their points across. India did not have a quality badminton magazine, with Guts & Glory, that lacuna is filled as well.”
RESULTS : Mumbai Suburbs Beat Mumbai City 3-2
50+ MEN’S DOUBLES
Mayur Tawade and Bhushan Akut (Suburbs) Beat P. M. Bala and Naval (City) : 21-18, 21-18
40+ MIXED DOUBLES
Deanne Rodrigues and Manish Hadkar (Suburbs) Beat Nilakshi Sinha and Yogesh Padukone (City): 21-11, 19-21, 21-13
45+ MENS DOUBLES
Shailesh Daga and Jatin Agarwal (City) Beat Anees Badani & Pervez Patel (Suburbs): 22-20, 21-15
45+ MIXED DOUBLES
Naheed Diwecha and Rajesh D’souza (City) Beat B. Sapra and Vilas Kuwale (Suburbs): 21-2, 21-5
60+ MEN’S DOUBLES
Hubert Miranda and Ashok Sharma (Suburbs) Beat Gautam Ashra and Rajiv Parekh (City): 21-12, 21-11