Thimmana Upadhya’s milestones become Karnataka Table Tennis history

Thimmanna Gajanan Upadhya, fondly known as Charlie among close circles is a household name to all sports-loving people in the state and more so in North Karnataka. In fact, his accomplishments are amazing, right from his association with the Sports and Recreation Club of LIC Dharwad and donning the role of an Umpire in state, national and international level Table Tennis tournaments and championships. However, he appears to be least bothered to beat a drum about the same.

Individual milestones history of TT: Narayan G Sabhahit, a close relative had to persuade Thimmanna for a small conversation at his residence. Perhaps, writing about Thimmanna should not be construed as giving him the publicity that he is least bothered by. But mentioning his individual milestones is nothing else but tracing the history and growth of Table Tennis and other sports activities across the state in a big way.

Bengaluru centric Tourneys: In the early seventies, you name the sports Bengalureans dominated both in participation and organizing the same. The situation was no better with Table Tennis either. The then state level Table Tennis Association meant a coterie of people associated with some Bengaluru based clubs only. Thanks to the relentless efforts of Thimmanna Upadhya and his friends including veterans like Purushottam Rao and Satish Tagarpur among many others, the sports situation in the state began to change for better over a period of time. These days, state Associations literally mean representation of all the districts in the state.

From one Table Tennis Table: It was 1971 when Thimmanna Gajanan Upadhya joined the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) in Dharwad. The office was in the old APMC building on Savadatti road. For being a bachelor in an office of around 400+ employees, recollects TG Upadhya: “We had to be engaged in the evening after office hours in sports activities as but for Subhas Road, Dharwad was a village. There was only one Table Tennis table in the Recreation Club with 2-3 good players…

…Thanks to late J Alexander, then DC who allotted land, the new LIC divisional office building came into being during 1975. The total strength over a period of time shot up to more than 700 employees. From then on there was no looking back to various types of sports activities not only in LIC alone but through it across the state, country and abroad”.

World Chess Champion’s first Tournament: Thanks to the organizing skill sets of Thimmanna Gajanan Upadhya and his friends in not just holding TT Tournaments but similar other sports activities as well. You may be surprised to learn that World Chess Champion Vishwanathan Anand’s first-ever national championship tourney was in Dharwad in 1982. Then, 13 years old Vishy took part in the meet organized by the local LIC’s Sports and Recreation Club.

First Open Table Tennis Tourney: The credit of organizing the first-ever state-level Open Table Tennis Tournament at Dharwad in 1975-76 goes to Thimmanna Upadhaya and his comrades. TG Upadhaya is also a former LIC union leader. The TT Tourney in association with the state TT body also boasts the unique distinction of being the first such mega event in North Karnataka.

Several national-level events in Dharwad: In fact, the first TT Tourney was only a beginning. Since then, several similar and much bigger events continue to be held in Dharwad apart from the annual state-level ranking TT Tourneys. The All India LIC TT Tournament was held in 1993 while national level Volley Ball Tournaments continue to be held in the subsequent years.

Two national-level events: In 2013 the 43rd National Ranking All India Inter Institutional Table Tennis Championship sponsored by LIC was held in Dharwad. It was for the first time an event of such magnitude took place in the city and North Karnataka. More than 650 sportspersons participated. A similar but much bigger event , National ranking All India (South Zone) was organized during 2017, wherein more than 800 players and 100 officials took part. The categories of events included sub-junior, junior and senior national championships.

Two TT Coaching Camps by Korean Coaches(2014 and 2016): Two mega Table Tennis coaching camps were held in Dharwad. Internationally renowned North Korean coaches gave coaching to the participants. They were the first of the kind coaching camps not only in Dharwad but in the whole state. An Jang San, North Korea coach appreciated the enthusiasm and concentration of the budding players.

Infrastructure challenges: TG Upadhaya recalls: “It is very difficult to hold major events in places other than Bengaluru. There are many monetary commitments which need to be adhered to, while infrastructure shortcomings and other such factors prove to be nerve breaking challenges”.

Organizer becomes Umpire: Maybe, the skill sets of successfully organizing major events coupled with the never-ending zeal of becoming outright professional paid dividends to TG Upadhaya. He started officiating as Umpire right from the state Ranking TT Tourneys ever since the early seventies. He also got through the International umpiring examinations conducted by the London based International TT Federation in 1984.

World Tournaments: He was an umpire for the World Championships held in New Delhi in 1987. Subsequently, he also donned the role during the Asian championship. However, the 2004 Commonwealth Table Tennis championship event at Kaula Lumpur became a memorable moment for life. He was the lone Indian umpire while it was his first-ever assignment abroad. But he was not lucky enough to become a referee for the finals as both the finalists were fellow countrymen.

Tricolour flag unfurling an emotional moment: The Indian paddlers’ sterling performances made the trip a very memorable one for TG Upadhaya. He becomes emotional recalling the instance of the national tricolour flag unfurling at an international event, which is a rare feat to cherish. He showered lavish praises to the Indian team. Then, Sharat Kamal won individual gold apart from the Indian contingent bagging the team gold as well. Soumyadeep Roy scored silver, Mouma Das and Poulomi Ghatak snatched bronze in women’s doubles! He had also been abroad twice as the Team Manager to events in Halmstad, Sweden and Doha, Katar,officiated as Umpire in Spanish Youth Open, an international TTChampionship held in Spain in May 2011.

List of events never-ending list: Perhaps the list of places he visited on assignments in various capacities within the country looks to be never-ending and there is no state and state capital, which he hasn’t visited!

Lifetime achievement award: His commitment to sports in general and Table Tennis, in particular, has been aptly recognized at the national level. He is a Member of the Khelo India Talent Research Committee for South India. In 2017 the then Union Information and Broadcasting Minister and Olympic medalist Colonel Rajavardhan Singh Rathore presented the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) lifetime achievement award.

Accomplishments galore…: Thimmanna Gajanan Upadhaya has quite a long list of accomplishments. His contribution has also been recognized at the national and international level with due accolades and felicitations. But back home it looks both the society and the state government haven’t pondered over the matter, although he was born and brought up in a small village in Uttara Kannada Dist who is now aged 72 years, is residing in Dharwad for last 51 years. Dharwad, his hometown for 52 years is widely known as the cultural capital of the state. If so, how come you tend to remain a mute spectator to a simple, humble gentleman with accomplishments unimaginable?

-Manohar Yadavatti