Victor Barna, table tennis’ first superstar, attempts a typically spectacular stroke during a coaching stint in Madras in 1957. A record five-time World champion, Barna raised the profile of the game in the 1930s with his athletic, acrobatic style of play. This, combined with his obvious love for the sport, which shone through whenever he played, captivated audiences as he travelled around the world.
The Hungarian master was an instrumental figure during Indian table tennis’ early years. His first tour in 1938, when he played in Bombay, Delhi, Madras and Calcutta, introduced the country’s fans to high-quality table tennis. The sport was just getting started in India, but everywhere he went, the halls were packed to capacity. His skills, trick shots and clowning around endeared him to the crowds.
Barna’s legend further grew when he joined the British army as a parachutist during the Second World War. He settled in London after the war and represented England at the highest level, playing well into his 40s: he won a doubles silver in 1954 at the World Championships at Wembley. Two years earlier, at the Worlds in Bombay, he took bronze in the doubles and mixed doubles. He continued to travel after retirement, returning to India to coach and adding immeasurably to the development of local talent. He was on a tour of Lima, Peru, in 1972, spreading the word of table tennis, when he passed away, aged 60.
