Niraj Bajaj honored with Lifetime Achievement Award in Table Tennis
Niraj Bajaj’s Legacy: A Lifetime of Excellence in Table Tennis
As we celebrate the achievements of one of India’s most revered table tennis players, Niraj Bajaj, it’s clear that his legacy extends far beyond the confines of the sport. With a career spanning decades, Niraj has left an indelible mark on Indian sports, inspiring generations of athletes and enthusiasts alike. Recently honored with the prestigious SJAM Lifetime Achievement Award, Niraj Bajaj’s contributions to table tennis and Indian sports as a whole are a testament to his dedication, perseverance, and passion.
A Champion’s Journey
Niraj’s journey in table tennis is a remarkable one. Representing India for 7 years, including 4 years as Captain, he demonstrated exceptional skill, leadership, and sportsmanship. His impressive record includes three All-India Table Tennis Championships, and four times ranked India No.1. These achievements earned him numerous accolades, including the Arjuna Award, Shiv Chhatrapati Award, and Maharashtra Gaurav Puraskar.
Honored for a Lifetime of Achievement
The Sports Journalists’ Association of Mumbai (SJAM) recently presented Niraj Bajaj with the Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his outstanding contributions to Indian sports. At the ceremony, Niraj Bajaj expressed his gratitude and reflected on his journey:
“Thank you very much for this honor, SJAM. I was just thinking, I’ve been very lucky in my life as a promoter of the Bajaj Group, I must say, I’ve led a charmed life. But I want to still say that my happiest days were when I played Table Tennis and got the chance to play for India. Being the Captain of the Indian Team, representing your country, is the highest honor, and those were absolutely my happiest days. I was wondering, I must say I’m very lucky, I’ve had such a beautiful life and I’m very lucky my wife is also here.
Why is it that in our sporting days, we experience blood, toil, and sweat, yet I still remember those days as the happiest days of my life?
I learned so much from sports, and it’s helped me in my entire career and life. Sports teaches you so much, and I believe it makes you a better human being. You don’t have to be a champion to experience that; being a sportsman in itself can make you a better human being.
So, I’ve always felt that I should and want to give back to the game in some way. As I said, I’ve been very lucky being part of OGQ. We have a great team, we have done great work, and although there’s a long way to go, we now support about 450 athletes. In the last few Olympics, the majority of the athletes who won medals, whether in the Olympics or the Para Olympics, were supported by OGQ. So, I think it’s a great organization and we are heading in the right direction.
Similarly, for table tennis, UTT (Ultimate Table Tennis League) just finished the league a couple of weeks back in Ahmedabad and it was on for 2 weeks and now it’s considered as the number one league in the world. That’s something we never thought we could achieve when we started, maybe 5-6, or even 7 years back.
So, it’s really all for the love of sports. But this isn’t just about the league, it’s about whatever we can do as UTT for table tennis, to encourage it, and take it to the next level. We are there for the game, which, as I said, has given me so much personally. And yes, we all understand it’s not easy to make world champions. But I believe we are making progress in Table Tennis year by year, and I believe we are on the right track.”
A Lasting Legacy:
Niraj Bajaj’s work with UTT and OGQ has helped establish table tennis as a premier sport in India. His commitment to promoting sports and nurturing talent has made a lasting impact on the sports landscape. As we celebrate his legacy, we look forward to seeing the continued impact of his work in promoting table tennis and inspiring future generations of athletes.
