Talking technique: What made Nandu Natekar so great

The late Nandu Natekar at his friend’s Madhav Apte’s book release function in Pune on February 13, 2016. PIC/NITIN MUJUMDAR

What made badminton legend Nandu Natekar, who passed away at the age of 88 in Pune on Wednesday, so great? Let's talk technique here.

The man's smash never had much power, but was perfectly directed to the opponent's waist or the armpit of the playing hand. Those who have played the game well will understand the value of this technique. Even a half-smash to the middle body of the opponent is very difficult to get back. Natekar made the best of players look foolish as they tried to twist away from the shuttle that seemed, by some Oriental legerdemain, to be aimed at their midriffs!

And his own defence was so organised that the bird went back with minimum fuss - even when it was hit by the likes of Hammergaard Hansen, a Danish player reputed to have the hardest smash of his time; it was known worldwide as 'Hansen's Hammer' and the Dane could break the shuttle with his raw power.

Legendary control
Natekar's control over the bird was legendary, both from near the net and from the backcourt. At the net, there was the tight dribble that had the shuttle, more often than not, like the pet dog, "rolling over and playing dead." From the backcourt, the drops and slices dipped sharply, falling well within the service line and dragging an opponent all the way up to the net. And his backhand was considered the best in the world, on par with that of the legendary Malayan, Wong Peng Soon, who was his idol.

Undefeated champion
The 17-time national badminton champion (six singles, six doubles and five mixed doubles titles) retired from singles play as undefeated national champion in 1965 with his sixth title.

In the eventide of his life, Natekar indulged his love of music and singing (he counted Pandit Bhimsen Joshi and Lata Mangeshkar among his personal friends), and swung a mean club at the nearby golf course. He loved going for walks, but it was an activity that was severely truncated in his final two years by the COVID-induced lockdowns and his own steadily deteriorating health.

A true Legend
It was not for nothing that Nandu Natekar was inducted into the Legends Club, the exclusive sorority founded by his lifelong friend, the late Test cricketer Madhav Apte; and he remains the only shuttler in that club of cricket champions.

Pending autobiography
It is with considerable anguish that I must record his inability to see the publication of his autobiography, which he and I had been working on for some years. It will be my endeavour to speedily bring out that book which would lay before his admirers the story of one of India's greatest and most loved sporting champions.

Also Read: Nandu Natekar's genius

The author, a veteran sports journalist, has represented India in several veteran badminton events including the World Masters Games where he has won four gold and four silver medals in Melbourne (2002) and Edmonton (2005).