Tall, quiet, sturdy and cheerful. Similar to the coconut bushes that made the coastal district of Dr BR Ambedkar Konaseema, one of the nice locations in Andhra. R Kasi Viswanatham, father of India’s brightest doubles star, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, was the good ‘badminton dad’ in India, a towering determine who gave the nation one in every of its most interesting athletes, whereas he remained gently and graciously within the background. His passing on Thursday, after a cardiac arrest, en route Delhi to observe his son get feted with the Khel Ratna, at age 65, forged a pall of gloom on the Indian badminton fraternity. The light large was no extra.
Kasi Viswanatham will without end keep imprinted in reminiscence for one of the endearing issues uttered, that formed the game in India. Like his towering father, a teenaged Satwik had a large leap — similar to fellow giants from this coastal Andhra district with its volleyball-loving spikers, a expertise base that could be the best-kept secret of Indian sport. With that deadly bounce smash (he finally set a Guinness report for the quickest smash), Satwik may’ve simply chosen singles, and located appreciable glory.
However when he went to the Hyderabad academy in 2013, the daddy would merely inform the coach, “….kaisa bhi utilise karo, bas India ka baniaan pehenna hai.” Deploy him as you would like in both occasion – singles or doubles – we simply want to see him put on the India jersey.
No individualistic ambition, no clamour for monopolised consideration, no impatience of deadlines for fulfillment, not even a reassurance that his profession might be specifically taken care of. Only a very heat, non-cloying want that his son would possibly sooner or later put on India colors. And sufficient badminton knowledge, to depart the large selections to the coach, although the daddy had been his first shuttle instructor.
Pullela Gopichand had been pleasantly shocked that this revered coach from Amalapuram, who knew the game way over most mother and father, wasn’t dictating a wish-list of timelines and making that acquainted nudge — to make him a singles champion, again then the favored and maybe solely dream of fogeys.
It was a outstanding factor for any father or mother to say in 2013 — only one 12 months after Saina Nehwal’s first Olympic medal for Indians. However Kasi Viswanatham was completely different from different mother and father. He nursed a deep love for the game, laced with humility about his personal limitations as an elite coach.
A excessive jumper himself, Viswanatham skilled to be a Bodily Schooling instructor at Rajahmundry, and later went on to develop into Principal. He really stumbled into badminton reasonably late in life at 21. However his dedication was unparalleled.
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As soon as smitten, he went all the best way passing on his like to his two sons. The youthful one confirmed immense promise.
Viswanatham himself would tie a sturdy thread between two coconut bushes and be taught to apply outdoor. Konaseema is commonly likened to Kerala, with its fairly coastal panorama, and delicate methods. Plus love for the native delicacies, and a basic calm disposition of its residents, who don’t get too flustered or rushed by huge materialistic goals or social standing symbols. The PE instructor would begin underneath coach Puniah Choudhary, one of many first from India to graduate from NIS, and take a liking for badminton in 1980.
Amalapuram had no indoor courts, however his curiosity within the sport knew no bounds. “He could be enjoying until 2 a.m, 3 a.m repeating drills sincerely as a result of faculty work consumed his days. Satwik wasn’t the one one to emerge from these outside cement courts, a good few others did too after he took to teaching,” Puniah Choudhary recollects.
Early monetary assist got here from his spouse’s sister’s husband, a district choose. And a neighborhood physician, Metla Suryanarayana, as he constructed an aura of positivity round pursuing the game. Shot tips had been loved, smashes had been unleashed unfettered, good wholesome residence meals was set on the desk with each mother and father chipping in and instructing each sons to cook dinner, they usually had been taught to fall in love with the game reasonably than attaching any vocational ambitions to it. It has made Satwik a composed attacking participant, who not often will get frazzled.
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Cordial and calm
Cordial and calm at all times, the household was a good unit, and Satwik very near his father and older brother. Viswanatham would go onto decide umpire certifications, after successful a couple of native tournaments and coach anybody who confirmed curiosity.
Satwik was given a selection although – he performed basketball, volleyball, did athletics, moreover tempo bowling in cricket. The PE instructor discovered time to like each sport and ensured his sons would too. However it was in Hyderabad through the 2009 World Championships that Kasi Viswanatham really handed on necessary classes to his son. After ending his officiating duties, he went and sat with a bunch of Chinese language followers, and when Fu Haifeng gained the title and threw his racquet into the stands, Viswanatham would leap the very best to catch the Li Ning Turbo Cost N9 marvel wand handy it over to his son. “My father believed you don’t want a number of cash to play badminton.
However you want a racquet.” It will make Satwik, who would practice on the cement court docket until 11.30 p.m. himself, respectful in the direction of his tools, for all times.
The daddy had been ecstatic each time Satwik gained a title with Chirag Shetty and reached World No 1. He would patiently drop in to Hyderabad, each time an damage felled his son, and despatched him to items whereas he rehabbed. When success got here knocking, the daddy, additionally the primary coach, would quietly step again. However there was no day sweeter than when Satwik-Chirag helped India win the Thomas Cup, the World Cup of badminton. The Indian jersey gleamed that day, and the coastal postcard city of Konaseema had appeared additional fairly and wonderful. Kasi Viswanatham”s love for the game won’t ever be gone – it is going to be in each light sway of the tall, upright, sturdy bushes in whose shade he learnt to like the game, and taught his son to play too.
