Legendary Player Kamlesh Mehta ready to help State paddlers

Our Sports Reporter

GUWAHATI: Guwahati and Assam carry a lot of memories for legendary table tennis player Kamlesh Mehta.

During his playing days, he visited the city to participate in national-level competitions. His better half and second Arjuna awardee from Assam Monalisa Barua also hails from the city. He was even part of many events that were organized in Guwahati.

Now the son-in-law of Assam wants to help the table tennis players of the State and that too in the best possible way.

Kamlesh and Monalisa are in Guwahati for a small vacation. However, during this short stay in the city, they spent most of the time visiting the local infrastructures of table tennis. They have also had conversations with the young paddlers of the State.

The Sentinel got the opportunity to catch both of them this evening when they were accompanied by another legend of Indian sports, Bhogeswar Barua.

Talking to this reporter, Kamlesh admitted, “I would definitely like to work for Assam. After my marriage parents of mine and my in-laws told me that now I had joint responsibility and had to work for both Maharashtra and Assam. It’s true that earlier I was not able to take time out, but now I am ready and I will try to help the players of Assam, and that too, in a much-planned way.”

Sharing his experience on the infrastructures of the game in Guwahati which he visited today the director of 11 Sports, that organizes UTT, said,” In Mumbai, we really struggle to get the space for regular practice and also for holding tournaments. But here you have international standard stadiums and also have a few good practice arenas across the city. It’s very impressive.”

Kamlesh is also impressed with the role being played by the State government to promote sportspersons in Assam. “Nowadays players from Assam receive good cash incentives from the State government if they perform well in international meets. It’s a very good decision that also acts as a motivational factor for a player. I have seen many players who brought laurels to the country but not received any financial assistance from their own State government and it forced them to struggle and even cut short their career,” added Kamlesh.

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