Karni Singh, the rifle-shooting legend

India’s first gold medal in an Olympic individual event came in rifle-shooting. Abhinav Bindra achieved the ‘impossible’ at Beijing in 2008. Earlier at Athens in 2004 Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore became the first Indian to claim an Olympic medal (silver) in rifle shooting for India. Both were exceptional achievements in a nation where rifle-shooting has never been a popular sport.

Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur and even Jaisalmer are the major ports of call in the land of Rajputana. But when it comes to rifle-shooting it is however Bikaner that is at the pinnacle of the crown. The Rajputs have displayed exemplary standards of bravery over the centuries. We have been brought up on the stirring heroic deeds of Rana Pratap and his equine companion Chaitak. It stands to reason that Rajputana would produce India’s first hero at the rifle-shooting range.

The man happened to be none other than the erstwhile Maharaja of Bikaner, Karni Singh. He lost his State at the time of merger of Indian princely States to the Indian Union. He lost his ‘privy purse’ when the concept of royalty was abolished for good. Yet no obstacle seemed to deter the determined raja. Karni Singh was a maharaja in the real sense of the term. The gentleman was the monarch of all that he surveyed at the shooting-range as well as off it.

His presence breathed of royal lineage at its best. Humble and genteel of manner, the strong and handsome man spoke in a soft, cultured tone. He gave the distinct impression of a man who was in no hurry or worry. Nothing, just nothing could leave a crease on his broad forehead. His immobile face hid a man of passion, a man of conviction, a man of utmost gentleness. No one ever saw him betray any emotion. Impassive in bearing; highly charged in action.

When he held the World Championship runner-up trophy, did we see a faint suggestion of a smile? When he had the Asian gold medal around his neck, did we notice a tear of joy? When he lost a hard-fought struggle in a competition, one would think he was the winner in the way he would walk upright and confident to his opponent to shake the latter’s hand. He would give a courteous nod to the officials and leave the range. No emotion would surface from the erstwhile royalty of Bikaner, Karni Singh.

It is said that when Karni Singh travelled abroad with the Indian contingent to participate in international competitions, the rifle-shooters appeared to be the most cool and composed group. Karni Singh was their mentor, guide, captain and compatriot. He drilled into his team the concept of ‘India first. India last. Nothing in between.’ Rarely, if ever, did the Indian rifle-shooters let the country down.

The patriot in Karni Singh drilled into his team members that every contest was a fight in the nation’s honour. There would be no compromises. Even defeat would be valiant. Karni Singh’s men never even whispered any excuses for their losses. They went down fighting with grace, dignity and valour. Karni Singh, who was used to living in palaces and in regal comfort, was totally at home in the Olympic villages with his fellow participants.

Karni Singh represented India in no less than five Olympic Games between 1964 and 1980. This by itself is an achievement very, very few would ever achieve or surpass. Whether the event was trap and skeet or clay pigeon, he was a master in every discipline.

He was the undisputed champion of India as he  left our shores for Rome, Tokyo, Munich, Montreal and the Moscow Olympic Games. He figured in as many as five World championships as well. In between he was a perpetual winner at the numerous Asian Games and Commonwealth Games he contested.

 When we were young and not so young the name of Karni Singh of Bikaner seemed to reverberate in our ears. The swarthy shooter’s right chin resting on the rifle-butt and his left eye closed as he aimed his weapon at the target was a familiar picture in our favourite weekly magazine Sport & Pastime. He was the man everyone looked up to for a certain medal. Hardly ever did he disappoint his countrymen.

According to sports researcher Kishin Wadhwaney, in 1962 at Cairo in the 38^th world championship, after a series of marathon duels it was a tie for the first place (295/300). Unfortunately in the shoot-out tie he missed the bull’s-eye. The world title slipped from his firm grasp literally just by a whisker. In time he was to win numerous international contests, but the world number one title eluded him forever.

But that did not deter him in the least. On the contrary like a true sportsman he concentrated more and more on his skills and on his training. No palace luxury ever beckoned or distracted the strongly-built Rajput warrior. At his Bikaner palace he, of course, was fortunate to have had his own shooting-range, where he would spend hours in absolute isolation.

 But just to have the best of facilities is not enough, one has to have many more sterling qualities to become and remain a champion. That is precisely what this erstwhile maharaja had. He knew no rest. He practiced and practiced.  Never believed in lolling in luxury. Or in lecturing others. He hated sermonizing. Rather like a true gentleman he concentrated on his own practice and helped whoever needed his support. Indian shooters have received his help in more ways than one can mention. His personal shooting-range was always kept open for anyone who wanted to use it. It was claimed that he had lost the key to the entrance gate!

In the early 1970s he dazzled the rifle-shooting world by claiming three elusive crowns in one year: Welsh Grand Prix, North World Cup and North Western Cup. According to the late scholar-sports-writer Kishin Wadhwaney, he happens to be the only shooter to have achieved this phenomenal feat of claiming these three highly coveted international titles in one year.

Readers would be delighted to learn that Karni Singh Bikaner was a great advocate of women’s liberation in independent India. He joined no marches. He made no radical speeches. Did not believe in media support. He acted in style and splendor. He was the first person in the world to select a lady in a team-event along with men in an international rifle-shooting event.

In the Asian Championship in Seoul in 1971 he picked the young Bhuvaneshwari Kumari of Kotah to partner him and Maan Singh in the Indian team. They won the bronze medal in the clay-pigeon team event. Thus India became the first country in the world to have a lady in the national team, which till then was considered to be an exclusive male preserve. This phenomenal issue has hardly been highlighted.

Even as late as 1982 at the Delhi Asian Games, Karni Singh Bikaner was a member of the team that bagged the silver medal. Still his appetite was not satiated. In 1984 he ran through the much younger and fitter opposition to win Welsh Grand Prix and the North West Cup yet again! Again another first in the world to repeat the feat.

How did he manage to traverse a period of over two decades in a highly competitive sport is a matter of wonder. No condition upset him. No opposition troubled him. No situation was beyond him. Amazing indeed to find how he overcame fitter and younger players. How did he adapt to the changing techniques is a matter of serious conjecture.

In 1982 he wrote a book From Rome to Moscow. One so-called researcher borrowed my copy and vanished. Unfortunately the book was not well distributed. Copies are difficult to find. If any reader can help me with a copy, I shall remain ever grateful.

Once when asked about his phenomenal performances, the modest and reticent Bikaner gentleman could only say, “The love of sport has taken me around the world on the wings of Air India, the airline that loves sportspeople!” Can sport and India think of a better ambassador?

The Tughlaqabad Rifle-Shooting Range has been renamed after the erstwhile Maharaja of Bikaner, Karni Singh, by the Sports Authority of India in a most befitting tribute to a legend who is synonymous with rifle-shooting in India. In 1961 he was also the first recipient of the Arjuna Award when the award was given to men of genuine distinction in sport.

Apart from his exceptional ability as a sportsman of international eminence, Karni Singh was an academic doctorate and later served the nation as a Member of Parliament. He was a brilliant orator; perpetually highlighting the causes of women and the economically distressed. Never shirked his responsibility as a parliamentarian. When asked about his regular and active presence, his gentle reply was, “Well that’s my job. I am only trying to do justice to the faith the people have reposed on me.”

A role-model, completely forgotten in the land of his birth and achievement. My salute to him.

 

 

 

Nandu Natekar

In 1954 Free Press Bulletin, a prominent newspaper in Mumbai, conducted a poll to elect the most popular Indian sportsman. The poll generated great enthusiasm around the country. At this time Indian hockey was at its zenith with Olympic gold medalists like KD Singh Babu, Balbir Singh and Leslie Claudius in prominence; Vinoo Mankad and Vijay Hazare were considered among the premier cricketers of the world and Tenzing Norgay had just conquered Mt. Everest.

Badminton star Nandu Natekar surprised one and all with the maximum number of votes. To have won the poll in the presence of such super-stars was indeed an indication of the popularity that he commanded. It is actually amazing to note that this popular appeal of his was even before he had defeated the world number one Erland Kops of Denmark at Cricket Club of India (CCI). For the record, Nandu Natekar won the national championship six times in the 1950s and was the runner-up in four.

At present Indian shuttlers have become household names in the world of badminton. This is certainly a matter of great pride for all Indians that both our men and women are holding the centre-stage around the world. The man who laid the foundation of this glorious era was none other than the Bombay-man Nandu Natekar in the 1950s.

The first people to play badminton in India were the British army officers posted here. That was in the 1870s. The native Indians however began to play seriously much later, only in the 1940s. However within a short span India unearthed some talented players, who displayed excellent technique and temperament.

According to sports administrator-writer Anthony D’Mello, in 1947 Devinder Mohan and Prakash Nath went to UK to participate in the All-England championship, then the premier badminton tournament in the world. Both played beyond all expectations and reached the quarter-final round. Being in the same half, they were billed to play against each other. They decided not to compete between themselves. Prakash Nath gave a walk-over to Devinder Mohan, who was the reigning national champion. Devinder won his semi-final match and ultimately became the losing finalist. As a pair they became also the doubles runner-up.

This was a brilliant beginning, without any semblance of doubt. International badminton critics were surprised as much as the Indians themselves. But in time our performance at the international level was not very consistent. Perhaps it was too early to expect us to produce any player of world-class.

 Our status in world badminton was average. We would take part in the Thomas Cup but we just could not break into the big league, which was dominated by south-east Asian countries, especially Malayasia and Indonesia, as well as by Denmark.

In that scenario a stylish man from Bombay, Nandu Natekar – neat of composure and conduct – won the coveted title of Selangor Cup in Malayasia and repeated the feat in the King’s Cup championship in Thailand in the 1950s.

To win two international championships against world-class opponents raised quite a few eyebrows. Still the Indian populace could not come to terms with Natekar’s magnificent victories. Ignorant as we were, we were in doubt of the importance of these championships; the significance of these victories. We were uncertain of our own ability.

To prove that these victories were no fluke, Nandu Natekar demolished the current world champion Erland Kops of Denmark at CCI in 1958. It was a super-human effort without an iota of doubt. This magnificent duel with the world champion gave Nandu Natekar a permanent place in the honours list of great Indian sportsman. Almost overnight, Indian badminton began to earn world-wide respect.

Natekar was quiet and confident. A master in the art of strategy and planning. He concentrated not on flashy strokes and exhibitionist tendencies. On the contrary Natekar was technicality personified.  In the words of Kishin Wadhwaney, the sports-scholar journalist, “He was the Vijay Merchant of Indian badminton...” Every step of his was in conformity with conventional methods.

On the court Natekar relied not on smashes but on placements and on minimizing errors. He had the stamina of a horse. He relied on rallies and wore the opponent down with deft placements and continuous returns. Although strong-silent, he was goaded to mention, “To me badminton is a touch-sport…Waste no energy. Stick to basics. Play the ‘waiting’ game and try to minimize errors. Let the opponent lose his stamina by playing aggressively.” This was impeccable advice considering the Indian physique and psyche. He himself did as he believed. Extremely bright, he knew what he was saying.

He was a cerebral sportsman. Loved classical music and devoted hours to literature. It is said that Natekar never spoke beyond what was absolutely necessary but would read whatever he found near at hand. Voracious reader he was and possessed a wide orbit of liberal views. Had little time for unnecessary radicalism but was far more progressive than most in his life-style.

Once when my friend Pranay Mondkar shook his hand and introduced himself, instantly the 80 plus gentleman asked, “Are you the son of Yashwant Mondkar? What an exemplary person he was. A very close friend of mine.” Just goes to show that age could not diminish the humility and the exceptional mental alertness of the magnificent champion.

Loved to dress well. Impeccably attired, he was always neat and confident.  He gave the impression of a stylish man on the move. Always willing to help, but he would never go forward to guide unless asked for. This approach may not have gone down well with some youngsters. But ultimately this approach seemed to be the best possible option as far as Natekar’s temperament was concerned. He would never get involved with others into irrelevant debates and discussions. His philosophy was: live and let live.

 Born at Sangli in Maharashtra, young Nandu was extremely competent at tennis and cricket too. While at school, apart from being a diligent student he was an all-round sportsman with a natural flair for sport. Later after shifting to Bombay in the 1940s, he developed his liking for badminton and in very quick time made his presence felt at every competitive level.

In recognition of his service to Indian sport, the Government of India conferred on him the Arjuna Award in 1961. He happened to be the first recipient of the Arjuna Award for badminton in the inaugural year of the award ceremony. He was attached to the Maharashtra State Sports Council and left behind his mark with his matured observations and decision-making.

In time the surname Natekar stayed on as Nandu’s tennis-playing son Gaurav went on represent India in Davis Cup. Father and son duo in two different disciplines as international performers is a rarity in the world of sport. The Natekars are a rare commodity with their impeccable skills and manners. They are a credit to their schools, colleges, universities and to all other institutions they were part of.

Nandu Natekar was a self-made player. He observed his seniors and learnt from their words and actions. The intelligent young man was greatly influenced by the two of the best exponents of badminton in the world, Wong Peng Soon (Malayasia) and Tan Joe Hock (Indonesia), whom he saw at the invitation tournaments organized by Bombay Gymkhana and Cricket Club of India (CCI) at Bombay in the 1950s. Sports administrator Anthony D’Mello observed, “…Natekar modeled his back-hand play on Wang Peng Soon’s style.”

An analytical mind and the power of observation were his forte. He realized that to reach world standards he had to follow the best in the profession. Accordingly he set about his task, taught himself the art and the craft of the top players and in time showed his class to the badminton world. This approach of Nandu Natekar revealed his undoubted intelligence and adaptability.

Today when we find our modern generation of Indians doing exceptionally well at badminton at the international level, our heart goes out to the pioneers who helped to pave the way. The outstanding performance of our badminton players is a clear indication that the pioneering work of the former badminton stalwarts did not go waste.

Natekar commands an unique place in Indian sport. He is both the product as well as the seed of Indian badminton. He was the summation of the early talents in the forms of George Lewis, Jabbar Ali, Tara Banerjee, Prakash Nath, Devinder Mohan, Tarak Nath Seth, Manoj Guha and Gajanan Hemmady, among others.

At the same time he was the fount from where the magnificent products like Prakash Padkone and Pulella Gopichand, among others, flowered. The superlative lady-stars of today – Saina Nehawal, Pusarla Venkata Sidhu and Jwala Gutta, among others, – only manifest the pioneering zeal of Natekar’s Badminton India. The legend of Nandu Natekar thrives on and on…

Nandu Natekar’s place in the pantheon of Indian sport will remain forever.