Arun Kumar BK - The Scholistic Sporty

Now, this is my discovery, in the last week. I have located a paddler, of Indian origin, hailing from Karnataka, someone whom Ive been very closely associated with him, in the arena but had lost contact with over a few decades..
A full time long table defender, who gained respect on the Table on account of his performances. A down to earth boy(now off course a gentleman). I am speaking about Mr. Arun Kumar BK.
Arun started playing Table Tennis at the age of 13 and quickly made his mark in the racket sport. Hailing from a well-known sports family, the youngest son of Late Sri. B.R. Kapanipathy of Lawn Tennis, he won the Indian Junior national championships twice in 1974 and 1975. With him being in the team, Karnataka won the national boys team championships.
He represented India in the 1974 Asian Youth Championships in Yokohama, Japan where he was the “RUNNER UP” in the singles. In the earlier rounds, he had defeated Chinese number 1 player to advance the finals. Arun Kumar was awarded the ""FRIENDSHIP TROPHY"" for his outstanding display of sportsmanship in the Yokohama tournament.
Below the writeup it can be witnessed, THE GLAMOUR of the gentleman being honoured still imbibing a low profile,
it is what education teaches us to do,
The trophy along with a medal that Arun B Kumar received after the finals of the 1974 -75 Asian championships in Yokohoma, Japan when he was runner up in the boys section losing 19-21 in the fifth game ie. "The Decider".
Recognized as a promising sportsman with academic potential, he was hired by Indian Airlines with a student scholarship to represent them from 1975.
Arun Kumar B.K. got into the playing arena as a teenager and was distinct in his approach, took up the defence vertical of the racket sport and this maybe the reason we two were actually close.
Now I would pen down a fact which may not be known to any of you reading, as I was in The 1975 Kolkata Worlds’, me being a long table defender to the core, I was blessed with an opportunity to meet the Hungarian legend, defender Zoltan Buzzerick, who was there as a representative of “BUTTERFLY”. He was my hero, Buzzerick and me had a long discussion on finer points of defending. Then we spoke on the Indian defenders who made a mark in the international arena. The names included T. Thiruvengadum and K. Nagraj. Both had retired,
“Now it is Arun”, Buzzerick remarked.
Further Buzzerick said that he was really impressed by Arun’s approach to the game and his command with backhand long table defence. To tell you more Arun Kumar BK was just 16 years old then. It had been an hour we had been discussing on the whole of what I would say as “THE ART OF DEFENCE”.
Buzzerick himself was a name monumental for being an aggressive defender in the Legend’s gallery.
Arun Kumar B.K. also represented India at the 1980 Asian championships held at Calcutta. The Asian Championship which is remembered for “The India-North Korea” match. It was the match which India led 4-2, n Arun Kumar BK initiated the proceedings winning his first match against the mighty North Koreans, which turned team India in The Aggression mode but alas, North Korea won 5-4. The match in which India had the North Korean coach-Pak U Gil, who left the stadium when India was leading 4-2…………
Arun Kumar B.K. was also a member of the Indian Table Tennis team that toured Trinidad and Tobago and Saudi Arabia. He is the recipient of the Karnataka State Rajyothsava award and the best junior sportsman from India by the Bombay Sports Journalist Association in 1975. He represented Karnataka and Indian Airlines for a number of years till 1980.
Arun, completed his Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Bangalore University in 1980 and then pursued Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia USA in 1983. While pursuing his degree he continued playing Table Tennis in the States and was ranked high in the U.S. Men’s category and defeated all the top players at that time with the exception of getting over the 5 time National Champion Danny Seemiller. Arun was ranked in the top 5 of USA, for five years, which is a rare distinction.
Arun whom I call the “Scholistic Sporty”, who hung his boots, is excelling in his career with various executive roles in leading Fortune 500 companies including FedEx, Dell Inc., Amazon and L.G.Electronics. He was the first Managing Director of FedEx India appointed in 1997 and was responsible for launching direct service in India. He served as Executive Director at Dell for 6 years in Austin, Texas. He was also the Chief Operating Officer at L.G. Electronics, USA.
Arun lives in San Diego, California and is married to his wife Rupa and has two daughters Prianka and Ameera.
Arun Kumar B.K. or The “Scholistic Sporty” as I call him, may be oceans apart, still hymns
“”PHIR BHII DIIL HAI HINDUSTANI””……………

PS: As you all must have gauged reading the writeup, Arun is different. On it, I would state that Arun was actually different, Arun Kumar gave priority to studies at a time he was at the peak of his career. And today it is very well evident, the quantum of success he has encompassed………..

The trophy along with a medal that Arun B Kumar received after the finals of the 1974 -75 Asian championships in Yokohoma, Japan when he was runner up in the boys section losing 19-21 in the fifth game ie. "The Decider"....

Forehand Long Table Chop defence

Backhand Long table Chop defence

Forehand drive

Arun Kumar BK, Indian International Paddler