Mysuru: In a remarkable achievement, Ullas Naik, a 24-year-old talented table tennis player from Mysuru, who is deaf, will be representing the country in the World Deaf Table Tennis Championship to be held in Turkey from July 18 to 24. He is the only player from south India who will be part of the three- member Indian Deaf Table Tennis Team (male).
Ullas seen in action
Ullas parents, Uday Shankar Naik and Prafulla who joined Ullas for table tennis just for time pass are delighted with their son’s performance. For the past couple of years, the talented table tennis player is consistent in his play and also a regular member of the Indian Deaf Table Tennis Team. His disability didn’t stop him from performing well in the sport. Ullas started playing table tennis when he was just 14-year-old. In a span of ten years, Ullas managed to excel in the sport and emerged as a champion in State and National level competition. In the inter-school national championship, Ullas represented normal school children and emerged as a champion. Later while pursing his three year diploma, representing normal students, in all the three years he emerged as champion in the State level inter polytechnic table tennis tournament.
Apart from being a State champion, since 2009 he is also consistently doing well in the National Deaf Table Tennis Championship. In 2009, 2011, 2013 and in January this year at Hyderabad, he emerged as the champion in the National Deaf Table Tennis Championship. In 2006, he had also been to Pakistan to take part in the friendly competition where too he emerged as champion. Last year representing University of Mysore in the south zone inter university competition, he lost in the quarterfinal. Interestingly, Ullas who completed three year diploma in architecture is pursuing a five year Bachelor of Architecture at University of Mysore.
P Krishnaiah, Incharge director, Department of Physical Education, University of Mysore said, “He is really a talented table tennis player. In fact, he was our medal prospects in the south zone inter university competition, but unfortunately lost in the quarterfinals. This year too we are having a lot of expectation from him”.
Umesh Urs of Harsha Table Tennis Academy who is coaching Ullas Naik since he took up the game said, “He is very talented and practicing with State and national champion Spoorthi. Instead of just depending on service, he should concentrate more on rallies. If he does that, definitely he is the medal prospect for the country”.
K Suresh, Assistant Director, Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports said, “They have given requisition for help from the department. I will in turn forward the same to Bengaluru. I will try my level best to provide any help from the department”.
Uday Shankar Naik, retired employee of JK Tyre said, “We are delighted with his outstanding achievement. For every tournament, especially when he takes part in the national and state level competition, we need to spend lot of money from our own pocket. By winning the tournament he hardly gets any money. If he takes part in the national level tournament, we need to spend nearly Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000. To take part in the forthcoming international event, he needs more money. If he gets any sponsor or support from State government, it will really be a great help.
