"We are going in the right direction" - Niraj Bajaj on the rise of table tennis in India
Niraj Bajaj is a prominent business tycoon, but long before he got into the business world, he developed a deep connection with table tennis.
As a player, Niraj claimed the champion's title at the All-India Table Tennis Championship final in 1971, at the age of 17. He went on to win the title again in 1973 and 1975. Bajaj also served as the captain of the Indian table tennis team in prestigious tournaments such as the World Championships, Commonwealth Games, and Asian Games.
Now a co-promoter of Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT), Bajaj’s association with the sport continues to remain strong even today.
In an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda, Niraj Bajaj shared his perspectives on the current state of table tennis in India, the impact of UTT on the sport's development, and his future aspirations for the league.
Q: Indian table tennis stars have enjoyed significant success recently. How much of a role do you think UTT has played in this?
Niraj Bajaj: I think Indian table tennis has not fared better in its history. As we know, the men's and women's teams have qualified for the Olympics for the first time. So many now players in the men's and women's have come in the top rankings in the world, in the top 100, top 50. So that's quite remarkable, because there are 150 countries playing table tennis all over the world. So it's very, very difficult. So it's a slow process.
I think UTT has made its contribution. And we want to, and it's not only the league, which, of course, is on television, and it's become very popular, and some of the best players in the world have come for it. And it's now maybe considered possibly the best table tennis league in the world. So we are very happy about that.
But that's not all. UTT, quietly in the background, promotes clubs, promotes tournaments, promotes grassroots. So whatever we need to do promotes coaches, whatever we need to do to create better and better players.
But ultimately, the player has to perform. The player has to go on that table. And there he's on his own. So ultimately, we have to give the credit. We can give all the support, as UTT, the table tennis federation, and the others who are promoting. In this case, even the sponsors, the franchise owners—everybody plays a part in the whole ecosystem. So to that extent, everybody is playing a part. And I think Indian table tennis has never done better.
Q: What are your expectations of the Indian table tennis teams at the Olympics?
Niraj Bajaj: Again, very difficult to say. And it's a matter, also, of the particular day, because the matches will be very close. It's a question of literally a few points here or there that can make all the difference. So the idea is not to put pressure on them. The idea is they must play the best they can. Yes, a medal looks difficult, but it would be magic if they could, in any way, get a medal for India.
Q: With the upcoming season of UTT featuring many new young players, two additional teams, and an expanded format, how do you feel about the league's growth, and what are your future aspirations for it?
Niraj Bajaj: Oh, we want it to just become bigger and better. We are there only to. It's not a business for us, for either Vita Dani or for myself and the whole team. So we are there only to promote the game and see how we can produce top players in the world. So we just want to do everything we can in terms of the support system so that there is no handicap to the players. They must get the best. It has to be a level playing field, at least.
In our years, when we used to play, we were always at some handicap to the international players. So we should have the best of facilities, the best of equipment, the best of coaches, the best of international exposure. Whatever a player needs, we need to; they must get the best of it. Then it becomes a level playing field.
Then also, it's very difficult when there are 150 countries buying for that same medal. So it's a tough, tough uphill task, but I think it is on the way.
Q: “The seeds that have been sown now," when do you think we will reap the benefits of it? Do you have a timeline in mind for when a significant number of players will emerge from UTT and become top international stars?
Niraj Bajaj: There is no timeline. It is more the barrier. There are more and more players. The game has to become more and more popular, competitively. It's very popular in general. Table tennis, every home; everybody has played table tennis on even their dining table some time in their life. So that is very popular.
The question is at the elite level, at the top levels, competitive levels. So there, again, there's no timeline. We have to just keep doing better and better. And it's a, you have to be patient. We're not going to get world champions overnight, but as long as we are going in the right direction, which I think we are, then we are going to; it's a journey. It's a long journey.
And so, and we are at it, and we are going to be supporting it. So it's not a time limit. We'll just hopefully go on forever.