GUWAHATI, Sept 3 - All sportspersons of Pipeline Department, Oil India Limited, Narengi here condoled the untimely demise of former noted table tennis players of the State � Rajeev Saikia and Nipjyoti Baruah � who passed away recently.
Both the paddlers had been leading players and earned laurels for the State with sterling performances in the national circuit. Saikia was the youngest State men�s champion in 1975. He also led the Assam team in various national junior and senior championships.
Nipjyoti Barua was a sub-junior national champion and also represented the national team on several occasions including at the US Open.
In the condolence meeting held yesterday, former leading sportspersons like Mallika Barua Sarma, Arunjyoti Barua, Madalasa Baruah, Gautam Hazarika and Tridib Duvarah recalled the contributions of both the players. They said Saikia was the player who introduced power game in TT. They also revealed that Saikia was so stylish that spectators everywhere wanted to enjoy his game.
Other sportspersons present were � Anal Kashyap, Soneswar Deka, Krishna Hazarika Rao, Jupi Borthakur, Papori H Borah, Abu Nechim Ahmed, Sunil Ranjan Gogoi, Parag Jyoti Baishya, Camilla Barua, Amar Dutta, Sidhartha Mukherjee, Dipen Deka, Pinku Showers, Diganta Kalita, Partha Sarathi Hazarika, Dipanju Goswami Sarma, Oli Deka, among others, stated a release.
