Nandu M. Natekar (Undivided India, 12 May 1933[1][2] – 28 July 2021) was an Indian badminton national champion.

Career

Natekar won over 100[3] national and international titles for India in a career spanning 15 years.[3] Natekar was the first Indian to win a title abroad, in 1956.[4][5] Natekar was a director of Natekar Sports and Fitness (NSF).

He won the Men's Doubles National Championship a total of six times,[6] Men's Singles National Championship a total of six times,[7] and Mixed Doubles National Championship a total of five times.[8]

He was an alumnus of Ramnarain Ruia College, Mumbai.[9] His son, Gaurav Natekar, is a seven-time Indian National Champion in tennis.[10]

Natekar died in Pune on 28 July 2021 at the age of 88.[11][12]

Achievements

  • Won National level Men's Singles and Doubles Championship, as well as Mixed Doubles, multiple times in India.[3][13]
  • He has reached the last 8 in the All England Championships.
  • Included among 'the Greats' in a souvenir published by Malaysia during the Thomas Cup series in 1954–55.[14]
  • Men’s Singles Champion in the Selangor International Tournament in Kuala Lumpur in 1956. His victory was also the first international victory by an Indian badminton player.[4][5]
  • Recipient of the first Arjuna Award instituted in 1961.[3][14]
  • Voted the most popular sportsperson of India in 1961.[3]
  • Natekar and Meena Shaw won the Mixed Doubles title at Bangkok’s King’s Cup International Tournament in 1962. Won the Men’s Singles title at the same event in 1963.[4]
  • Represented India at the Commonwealth Games in Jamaica in 1966.[14]
  • Awarded Meritorious Service Award by the IBF in 1989.[15]
  • Honoured at the Jagatik Marathi Parishad in Mauritius in 1991.[14]
  • Awarded Life-time Achievement Award by the Petroleum Sports Control Board of India in January 2001.[16]
  • Awarded Sahyadri Navratna Puraskar in 2002, titled Ratna Saurabh.[14]

References

  1. ↑ "Reference India: M-R". 2003.
  2. ↑ "Nandu Natekar, India's first badminton hero, passes away | Badminton News – Times of India".
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Natekar.com". Archived from the original on 7 February 2005. Retrieved 25 December 2007.
  4. 1 2 3 PIB.NIC.IN
  5. 1 2 WebIndia123
  6. ↑ In the years 1955,1956,1958,1960,1961,1963 – Badminton India Archives – Men's Doubles
  7. ↑ In the years 1953,1954,1958,1960,1961,1965 – Badminton India Archives – Men's Singles
  8. ↑ In the years 1953,1954,1961,1966,1970 – Badminton India Archives – Mixed Doubles
  9. ↑ "Ruia College – Awards and Distinctions". Archived from the original on 5 January 2008. Retrieved 25 December 2007.
  10. ↑ Indian Express (newspaper)
  11. ↑ Scroll Staff. "Indian badminton legend Nandu Natekar dies at 88". Scroll.in. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  12. ↑ "Indian badminton great Nandu Natekar passes away". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  13. ↑ Badminton India Archives – Individual Championships
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 Indiantelevision.com
  15. ↑ Badminton India Archives – Awards
  16. ↑ "The Hindu (newspaper)". Archived from the original on 4 March 2007. Retrieved 25 December 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
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