Ball badminton star Pitchaiah no more
The veteran who led the state to nine national titles and was the first Arjuna Awardee in ball badminton, breathed his last in Warangal on Sunday aged 104 years.
Ball badminton legend and Arjuna Awardee Jammalamadaka Pitchaiah passed away in Warangal on Sunday afternoon. He was 104 and is survived by daughters Susheela, Janaki Devi and their families. His wife Satyavathi died in 2007.
Pitchaiah had celebrated his 104th birthday recently, on December 21.
Pitchaiah was synonymous with ball badminton in the state, for he rose from humble beginnings to the national level and captained the then united Andhra Pradesh team to several national titles, a feat that earned him the Arjuna Award in 1970.
He was the first ball badminton player to get the national award. However, because of the war with Pakistan in 1971, there was no award function held. The next year, Pitchaiah received his Arjuna Award from the then president V. V. Giri in New Delhi.
Born in Kuchipudi village in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh in 1918, Pitchaiah was the third son of the seven children of Punnaiah and Nagamma.
With no formal coaching of any sort, he learnt the sport on his own, at the Minerva and Mohan clubs in Bandar, Krishna district. Those days, ball badminton was considered an elite sport.
Gradually, he competed and won at the district, state and national levels. The first big one came at the 1935-36 Nationals in Narsaraopet. He took a break after marriage and was back on the court, winning the 1947-48 Nationals in Gudivada.
In 1950, Pitchaiah got selected for the Nationals but could not take part due to lack of finances.
Then, 1954-55, he was winner at the Nationals held in Hyderabad before assuming captaincy of the state team in 1956-57 and leading it to nine national titles.
Tributes for Pitchaiah poured in from the sporting fraternity. “It is very sad to know that Sri Pitchaiah, the legend of ball badminton, is no more. He inspired the entire sports community of the State, specially ball badminton players. His services to the game are unforgettable and will be remembered forever. We lost a sporting legend. I extend my heartful condolences to the bereaved family members and pray for his soul to rest in peace,” said K. Jagadishwer Yadav, Telangana Olympic Association secretary.
Sports Authority of Telangana State chairman Allipuram Venkateshwar Reddy too offered condolences to the bereaved family members. Recalling his services to ball badminton, he termed Pitchaiah as “a great sportsman, who nurtured and mentored many national players from the state.”
“He was an absolute legend. He was in love with ball badminton, a sport he played as a recreation even at the age of 90! Sportsmen like him are rare,” said M. Prabhakar, veteran athlete who himself is active at the age of 69 and one who takes part in Masters events and marathons across the world.