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Dealing it back in style
Nalini Senanayake is 75-years-old, plays Table Tennis, guides dancers and dabbles in paint. Marisa de Silva talks to the lady with the back hand serve

Walking in on one of her daily hour-long table tennis sessions, I am amazed by the speed and aggression with which she plays the game. She's already played for about 45 minutes, and she's hardly out of breath! This wouldn't be a part of the average 75-year-old's daily schedule now, would it?

But this is no placid grandmother. Mrs. Nalini Senanayake, mother of a famous son (artist Senaka), is famous in her own right, having made a name for herself in the world of table tennis by winning many championship and runners-up titles in the sport.

Mrs. Senanayake has many Table Tennis Championship Awards, both in the open and veteran categories, but TT is not a game she's been playing since she was young. Wanting to learn the game to try and beat her grand-son Suren, Mrs. Senanayake had first approached the Table Tennis Federation in 1991 to ask if both herself and a friend could be trained. They were however, refused due to their age. But she persisted, asking if she could play at the tables. This was permitted and thus began her first step towards fame.

Initially, nobody was willing to play against her, she recalls with a twinkle. "I used to have about 100 balls, bounce them on the table and serve them to the other side, then go to that end collect the balls and do the same thing all over again." This went on until a coach at the federation, who had been observing her, told her she had a good eye and offered to coach her. He refused any payment saying they would wait and see how the practice sessions went.

Mastering the game quickly (her back hand serve being her forte), she went from strength to strength winning her first Championship Tournament in 1994 at the Otters Aquatic Club Women's (Open) Table Tennis Tournament. In the open events she had opponents as young as 17 and 18 years of age, so the competition had been that much tougher, she said. "What I lack in speed, I make up for by anticipating the opponents next serve," she says, laughing.

She went on to bag the Table Tennis Club Women's Open Championship in 1995 and the Western Province Table Tennis Association Veterans Category Championship and the Veterans Table Tennis Association of Sri Lanka Mixed Doubles Championship last year. She has been runner-up and semi-finalist in a number of tournaments over the last 13 years. As there isn't any other female player over the age of 50 currently in the fray, her opponents are generally all in their 40s.

"The competition is going to get tougher and tougher as there will be about a 36-year gap between my opponents and myself," she says, undaunted. Her sparring partner Lal Cooray claims that she's never been as good as she is right now so, she seems set to take on anything that comes her way.

Back in her schooldays at Girls High School, Kandy, she was a member of their first Netball Team in 1944. She also played tennis in school but was more interested in her studies at the time, she said. Unfortunately, she wasn't allowed to pursue higher studies as only boys were encouraged to go to University then she adds with a tinge of regret.

Mrs. Senanayake loves to paint and was the first female artist to be asked to join the renowned '43 Group when she was 18. Mrs. Senanayake had won many an award at competitive exhibitions organised by the Ceylon Society of Arts when she was young. Now she exhibits her work at her son's gallery. But their styles are very different, she says, pointing to one of her paintings.

TT apart, taking part in Bridge tournaments and having social dance lessons are some of the other pastimes that literally keep her on her toes. Taking lessons under Mr. Prince Ratnam, she says that as one of the 'old hands' in the class, she assists him by helping the new students practise. Her zest for life is infectious. "I love music, dancing, meeting up with my friends and chocolate!" she says. It's always good to exercise and keep yourself occupied, she adds, because then your mind can take a break and all your cares leave you. You don't just sit and think or worry."

She seems to live by the philosophy of taking one day at a time and not worrying unnecessarily. "What's going to happen will happen anyway, so why dwell on it," she asks.

A firm believer in the philosophy of helping others whenever the opportunity arises, she tries to do as much charity as she can with the proceeds of her paintings. "If you've fulfilled all your responsibilities by your family and they're all well established, then you owe it to yourself to enjoy life," she says adding, "Always try to laugh, because laughter can take you a long way…"

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