Tamil Nadu players mourn Jayalalithaa’s demise

The 68-year-old leader started the Elite Sports Scheme that offers scholarships for sportsmen to achieve greater laurels. Jayalalithaa didn’t not fail to include lesser known sports like kabaddi, fencing and weightlifting and medal winners from these sports were also felicitated under the scheme. 

Eminent sportsmen in the state plunged into grief on Monday night after hearing about the demise. Olympian V Baskaran, who handed over the SAF Games torch to Jayalalithaa in 1995, was distraught and at loss of words. “She was a true sports loving leader. It is only because of her we have so much of sporting infrastructure in the state. I had the good fortune of meeting her many times and she always used to address me with respect. She constituted a lot of committees in which I am a part of and never used to delay in recognising a sporting achievement. It is an irreplaceable loss,” Baskaran said. 

Former Indian cricketer and commentator now Laxman Sivaramakrishnan, popularly known as LS, said the state had lost a great leader. “The Nehru Stadium, the swimming complex, tennis stadium — all iconic sporting landmarks in the city was built during her tenure. She was always involved in sport as she was an avid sportsperson in her schooling days. Her populist schemes are a great hit among people and women felt safe as the law and order was excellent. She has gone too soon at just 68,” LS said. 

Former world chess champion Viswanathan Anand, who has been out of India for some time, tweeted. “She was a great patron of sports. Her eloquence, courage and conviction will be missed. Her schemes, especially for empowerment of will have a positive influence for many generations,” said Anand, who has met the TN political icon several times. 

India’s top-ranked paddler and Chennai’s A Sharath Kamal said he was fortunate to have met the ex-CM twice. “The most touching moment would be when she sent a personalised message through an officer congratulating me after just hours after winning the silver medal in the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014. She had even kept a count of the number of medals I had won and that shows the respect she had towards sportsmen. If all the districts today have a stadium, a sports hostel etc, it is only because of Jayalalithaa,” Sharath added. 

Vellore-born national weightlifter Sathish Kumar Sivalingam, who won the gold at the Commonwealth Games, said he was sad that he couldn’t catch a last glimpse of the departed leader. “When I met her in her office along with my parents, she was proud of my achievements and told my parents the same. It leaves a huge void now,” Sathish, who is at a national camp, said.