Panaji: Goa’s table tennis fraternity was left in mourning with the passing of former state champion Ulhas Raikar, a player, coach and mentor who touched the lives of generations of players.Ulhas passed away on Thursday after a long battle with cancer. He was 61 and is survived by his wife Vinita.“Ulhas has made an immense contribution to table tennis in Goa,” said Goa Table Tennis Association president Sudin Verenkar. “He introduced a large number of players to the sport and was a person without any complications. Never one to complain, he was much loved and respected by the entire fraternity. His passing is a huge loss for Goa and for table tennis.”Ulhas’ record as player was impressive: 12 Open Nationals, two School Nationals, more than 20 Zonals, and over 53 All-Goa tournament titles.Once his playing career was over, he dedicated himself to coaching, spending spent 17 years at U.V. Academy, wher ehe developed young talent. Top players such as Tanisi Kirtani, Ishita Colaso, Yug Prabhu, Ruhaan Shaikh, Urvi Surlakar, Anaya Shukla and many others passed through his academy and benefited from his guidance.“Ulhas will always remain that player I watched all those years ago – fearless, unconventional and capable of producing something special on occasions. From a talented player at the table to a coach and mentor who devoted 17 years to developing the next generation, Ulhas leaves behind a legacy that goes far beyond his own achievements,” said sports promoter Sandeep Heble.For former state champion and coach Agnelo Naik, Ulhas’ character was revealed most clearly during what could have been a rivalry between two academies.“We were competing for players, competing at tournaments and naturally wanting our own academies to succeed. Yet Ulhas never allowed that rivalry to become personal. There were occasions when he himself would call and say that a particular player had reached a certain level and needed something more. He would ask me to take the player and help them progress. His only concern was whether that young player could become better. That tells you everything about Ulhas,” said Agnelo.
