KOLKATA: Jayanta Pushilal’s zeal to produce table tennis champions was never ending. In spite of his failing health due to kidney ailments over the last few years, Pushilal continued to look forward to working with his trainees.
But his journey came to a grinding halt on Tuesday night as the 63-year-old left behind many unfulfilled dreams. Last year Pushilal received the Dronacharya Award in the lifetime category which many felt arrived too late. However, the award only boosted the coach to do more. “I still have unfinished work and will start afresh tomorrow,” he told TOI at that time.
Just months back when his past students arranged a felicitation programme, Pushilal said, “I want a kidney transplant. I have more work to do in grooming and nurturing players.” But his wish remained unfulfilled.
Known as ‘Botonda’ in the table tennis circuit, Pushilal’s coaching stint spread over 40 years during which he had produced more than 15 national champions across age groups and his list of pupils includes players like Mouma Das, Arup Basak, Ambika Radhika Suresh, Prapti Sen and others.
He played the game at the district level, but made a mark by getting into coaching at his Narkeldanga residence in East Kolkata. He later got higher training at NIS Patiala and apart from being a former national coach, he worked with the Kerala sports department as well as table tennis associations in Maldives and Kazakhstan.
“To me he (Pushilal) was not a coach but more of a guardian and whatever I am able to achieve today it is because of him,” Mouma said.
The Olympian credited Pushilal’s game reading quality as something very unique. “I used to blindly follow sir’s instruction as he could read my rival’s strength and weakness so well and guide me accordingly,” said Mouma, who even wished Pushilal to get well soon and inspire her to go for another national title on that felicitation day.
Pushilal’s contribution to table tennis will remain an inspiration for many in the years to come.
