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Talented Nikkilesh an Outstanding Paddler
DUBAI - By winning the Inter-school Al Sadiq Open table tennis tournament title four times, including a hat-trick, G Sai Nikkilesh has made a statement. The 15-year-old has shown that grit and determination and the zeal to excel can help in attaining success consistently.
It’s not that Nikkilesh sweats it out every day, practicing for hours, to be successful. But it’s his approach to the game that sets him apart from the rest. “I don’t practice much before the tournaments but I keep myself focussed. I play with a free mind and without any match fear and that’s the reason I can put up a solid performance and play the similar way I do during practice,” said Nikkilesh, who defeated Natun Das Gupta in straight games to win the 19th edition of the Sadiq tournament.
Having begun playing table tennis when he was just five, he has been a regular winner in all the school tournaments for many years. His fearless approach has made him a strong candidate and a favourite in many tournaments that takes place in the UAE. “I have been winning many tournaments since the past many years. I like winning,” said Nikkilesh, whose trophies and medals that have adorned his showcase stand testimony. His good show has also ensured the Indian High School, where he studies in Standard 11, reap huge success in the team events with the recent being the Al Sadiq tournament.
So consistent has been his performance that the Indian School, Muscat gave an invitation for the top school in UAE to participate in the prestigious Muscat Sports Festival. The Indian High School table tennis team did well in the festival to emerge winners once and runners-up the next time. “It was an honour that we were invited for the tournament. We were happy that we lived up to their expectations by excelling in the tournaments,” he said.
It’s not just in UAE that Nikkilesh tasted success. Back home in India too he has been an amazing performer. During vacation last December when Nikkilesh was in India, he participated in the CBSE Schools National table tennis tournament in Nagpur where he lost to the top seed in the quarter-finals and the eventual winner in a keenly contested match. That performance drew huge praise from the tournament organisers and officials.
The Science student is grateful to his school which has helped him in a big way to shape his sporting career. Especially the unrelenting support from the head of physical education department Tapan Das. “I am thankful to the school which has encouraged me in every possible way. I am very grateful to Tapan sir too. He has been of immense help and has never said no whenever I have sought help from him,” said Nikkilesh, whose father Nagesh Rao, himself a sports enthusiast and promoter, has been his backbone.
“Before going into any match, I speak to my dad. Talking to him keeps my mind focussed and his tips help me during the match,” added Nikkilesh.
Apart from all the success, Nikkilesh has another achievement in mind. “I want to win the (CBSE) Nationals in India which nobody has achieved so far here. I’m working hard towards that and I’m confident of achieving that soon,” he said.
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