Vijay Amritraj.
| Photo Credit: FILE PHOTO: SUDHAKARA JAIN
It was a night of class, nostalgia and celebration as Chennai raised a toast to 1 of its favorite sons, a nationwide icon and international ambassador, all rolled into one. At the Leela Palace right here on Monday, Vijay Amritraj was feted for his elevation in to the International Tennis Hall of Fame, which most amongst the assembled gathering felt got here a contact late to a person who deserves all the accolades and extra.
A tennis icon, broadcaster, actor, champion of social causes and sports activities administrator, Amritraj is a star of many elements. However, deep down he’s a quintessential Chennai boy with educational roots in Don Bosco School and Loyola College. And this was the return of the native as the who’s who of this Southern metropolis rallied round to cherish him.
Tamil Nadu’s Minister for Youth Development and Sports Welfare Udhayanidhi Stalin effusively lauded the sporting legend to set the tone for a night of appreciation. Chess maestro Viswanathan Anand mentioned: “Whatever I tried to do, Vijay had been there before.”
Amritraj’s India team-mate Ramesh Krishnan spoke about the deep ties between the two households and elder brother Anand elaborated a few childhood of desires and naughty streaks.
The night really belonged to Amritraj who thanked the viewers along with his customary wit and grace, and mentioned: “I owe it to my parents, they were two ordinary people who did extraordinary things with me.”
And to cap all of it, Boris Becker despatched throughout a video message and mentioned his prefix ‘boom boom’ was coined by his pal Vijay. It was that sort of night, of delicate verbal drop photographs coated with a permanent affection.
