It was never going to be easy. For Manmeet Singh Walia, the journey to becoming India's men's singles champion was uphill all the way, and paved with torturous tantalization and heartbreak. Beginning in 1981, he had the dubious distinction of losing four straight finals. Three of Walia's losses were at the hands of Kamlesh Mehta, an all-time great who won eight national championships. Mehta's record stood for 25 years, from 1993 until Sharath Kamal Achanta won his ninth title in 2018. Walia's other loss was to S. Sriram in 1983. Much like the all-time basketball greats who played during the Michael Jordan era, Walia just happened to keep running into the same buzzsaw. Despite his frustrations in the national finals, however, Walia never gave up. He possessed a fearsome forehand loop, and used it to great effect in service of the Indian national team during the 1980s. Finally, he got another shot at redemption. In 1989, he faced his old nemesis S. Sriram in the finals once again. With his high-toss serve capably setting up his killer forehand, Manmeet Singh Walia claimed the title which had painfully eluded him for so long. According to teammate Rajat Kathuria, Walia's success came from his innate tenacity. "For me, what stood out about him was his competitive spirit-- whether playing for the state or playing for the country, he gave his best," recalled Kathuria. "He was a player coaches were always very pleased with for he gave one hundred percent, nothing less." With the monkey finally off his back, Walia walked off into the sunset, retiring from the Indian national team to live in Canada in the early 1990s. In recent years, Walia faced his toughest opponent yet in the form of ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), a rare degenerative disorder often referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease. Mr. Walia passed away this week at the all too young age of 58. Walia never gave up his never-give-up attitude. "He had visited his doctors in Coimbatore also, trying to seek advice and find a cure. But he knew full well that there was no cure for it, yet he had put himself up bravely to fight the disease till he breathed his last," read a statement from the Table Tennis Federation of India. "Terrific player," recalled his erstwhile teammate and rival Kamlesh Mehta. "We shared some amazing moments on and off the table. I think he is gone too soon, just like the way he retired too early." Rest in peace, Manmeet Singh Walia, who exemplified the hard work and fighting spirit which defines all true champions.

More at The Hindu