India lost one of its most cherished table tennis stalwarts, Manmeet Singh Walia, who passed away in Montreal, Canada, at the age of 58 after battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a rare neurodegenerative disease.
Walia was a leading force in Indian table tennis during the 1980s, known for his sharp skills, tenacity, and international success. He first made headlines in 1976 when he won the Junior National Championship in Allahabad (now Prayagraj) at just 14 years old. Two years later, he earned international recognition with a bronze medal at the 1978 Asian Junior Championship in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
His crowning national achievement came when he became the men’s singles national champion in 1988–89. That same year, he was the only Indian to reach the pre-quarterfinals of the singles event at the Asian Championships in Jakarta. He also contributed to India’s gold medal-winning team at the 1989 South Asian Federation Games in Calcutta (now Kolkata).
Internationally, Walia was a consistent presence, representing India at the World Table Tennis Championships in Tokyo (1983), Dortmund (1984), Delhi (1987), and Chiba (1991). He also won a bronze medal at the ninth Commonwealth Table Tennis Championship in Wales.
Walia’s death marks the loss of a player who paved the way for future generations in Indian table tennis, leaving behind a legacy of perseverance, skill, and dedication to the sport.
