"ది హిందూ" పత్రికలోఈ రోజు ఫిదేల్ గురించి వచ్చిన వ్యాసం

Making waves in the table tennis circuit

V. V. SUBRAHMANYAM  

Fidel Rafeeque Snehit

His name might spell funny.

But this young talent in table tennis is pretty serious when it comes to competing across the table, often unfazed by the reputation of the opponents. That is Suravajjula Fidel Rafeeque Snehit for you.

This young boy, whom the regulars in table tennis circuit believe to have the potential to go a long way, is now India No. 4 in the cadets category.

A distinction which he achieved by virtue of his bronze in the Sub-junior nationals recently in Kochi.

For the record, Snehit also won the team bronze in the above National in the sub-juniors and cadet categories.

A student of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Snehit also helped his team win the silver in the National-level CBSE tournament held in Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh).

The fact that this youngster has become the first one in boy's category to reach this level is perhaps an indication of his commitment, talent and dedication.

Snehit's coach Somnath at the Global Table Tennis Academy where he trains, believes that the young champion paddler might well get a chance to attend some of the big-time coaching camps which should help him a long way.

Incidentally, Somnath being himself State No. 2 in men's singles should know what Snehit needs exactly. “It is because of Somnath bhayya I could achieve this. He taught us many new strokes to compete at national level. We both are working hard to perform well in the coming season,” acknowledges Fidel.

For someone who admires Ma Long and Achanta Sharat Kamal, Snehit has every reason to dream big including representing India one day in Olympics.

“I am grateful to the GTTA vice-president Ramdoss Bharatan, another coach Vedam Ajay Kumar and the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan School principal Rama Devi for all their support in my endeavour to be a champion,” he signs off before joining another rigorous training session. Keep at it.