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REMEMBERING SPORTS FAMILIES THAT SERVED INDIA THROUGH GENERATIONS

Czech Republic’s Petr Korda and his family can be a role model for sporting talent around the world. Petr Korda won the men’s singles title at the Australian Open 23 years ago. He had only one heartfelt wish that he should prepare talent of his level in his house. His wish was fulfilled. Today one […]

Czech Republic’s Petr Korda and his family can be a role model for sporting talent around the world. Petr Korda won the men’s singles title at the Australian Open 23 years ago. He had only one heartfelt wish that he should prepare talent of his level in his house. His wish was fulfilled. Today one of his daughters, Nelly, is the world’s number one golfer and his second daughter Jessica is the world›s number 13 player of the same sport. Patr’s son Sebestian has reached the fourth round of Wimbledon tennis and is the rank 50 player in the world.

Mankad, Amritraj, Phogat, Milkha Singh and P.V. Sindhu family has done a lot for the country. Vinoo Mankad, who made a world record opening partnership of 414 runs with Pankaj Rai, played 44 Tests for the country. One of his sons, Ashok Mankad, played 22 Tests. Second son Rahul played for Mumbai and Atul for Saurashtra in first-class cricket.

Ashok Mankad’s wife Nirupama was once an Asian champion in tennis. She became the first woman player of the country to play in an open draw of a Grand Slam, while her father Vasant played for India in tennis and both sons Harsh and Mihir have also followed the footsteps of his mother to play for the country in tennis. Harsh was a member of Davis Cup team for a long time.

Former India captain and chief selector Lala Amarnath proved his all-round skill in 24 Test matches. His eldest son Surendra Amarnath played ten Tests and three ODIs while Mohinder Amarnath played 69 Tests and 85 ODIs and was Man of the Tournament in addition to the Man of the Match in the semi-finals and final of the 1983 World Cup. His younger brother Rajendra Amarnath played for four different teams in the Ranji Trophy.

Flying Sikh Milkha Singh won four golds in Asian Games and also won a gold in Commonwealth Games and has proved to be an inspiration for many generations. His wife Nirmal was the captain of the Indian volleyball team while his son Jeev was a professional golfer. Vijay, Anand and Ashok were Davis Cup players in the Amritraj family. Vijay’s son Anand carried on his father›s footsteps, while Anand’s son Stephen Amritraj also played in the professional circuit and his wife Alison Riske reached the quarter-finals of Wimbledon by defeating world number one and French Open champion Ashleigh Barty two years ago.

Badminton star PV Sindhu’s father P.V. Ramana and mother P. Vijaya, who won silver medal in the Rio Olympics, have played volleyball for the country. Ramana was a member of the Indian team that won the bronze medal at the 1986 Asian Games and has been awarded the Arjuna Award. The Phogat family also contributed a lot. While Mahavir Phogat received the Dronacharya Award in wrestling, he did a great job by making total six daughters of himself and his brother international wrestlers. In which Geeta was the country’s first female Olympian wrestler, while Babita and Vinesh also participated in the Olympics. Similarly, Dr Vaes Paes was a member of the team that won the bronze in the 1972 Olympics, while his son Leander Paes ended years-long Olympic medal era by winning bronze in the singles of the 1996 Atlanta Olympic tennis event. There are countless examples of two members playing for the country from one family, but only those playing for the country of three people from one family are mentioned here.

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