If there was one thing the teams competing in Ultimate Table Tennis’ fourth edition found inadequate about the hotel they were put up at, on the outskirts of Pune, it was the gym.
“Not up to the mark” was the feedback from multiple paddlers — Indian and foreign — who lit up the arena during the 18-day tournament. The mediocre gym did, however, have a constant visitor each day of the three weeks he spent in Pune: Benedikt Duda.
The German southpaw — with a reputation of being a fitness freak — made the most of the limited equipment since he “cannot afford to miss even a single day” in the gym. At peace with himself when training with weights, Duda — or Benny, as he is popularly known on the circuit — was in his element when it came to donning the Chennai Lions’ yellow.
