Coach SS Aiyer dead

MUMBAI, JULY 22: Swaminathan Seetharam Aiyer, a member of the Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association's (MSLTA) council and brother of ...

MUMBAI, JULY 22: Swaminathan Seetharam Aiyer, a member of the Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association’s (MSLTA) council and brother of former table tennis international Kalavathy Seetharam, died here today following a massive heart attack. He was 64, and a bachelor.

The attack came soon after 9.30 in the morning. Aiyer, accompanied by brother Bala, was drinking coffee at the Indian Gymkhana, Matunga, where he has coached budding youngsters for decades. He complained of acidity and wanted to see a doctor. Bala took him to a clinic barely 100 metres away. As soon as he lay down for a test, he passed away.

Aiyer was a club-level player but was deeply involved in the game as administrator and coach. Three-time National champion and Federation Cup player Janaki Krishnamurthy, who learned her basics under Aiyer, said she thought of him not as a coach but as a genuinely nice guy.

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“He was very fond of me. He took a lot of pride in me, as I started my tennis there. My basics were developed under him,” Janakisaid. Janaki added that Aiyer `Sir’ was very good for a beginner because he was very patient and loved kids a lot.

“He didn’t coach for money. He already had a good job, he just did it for the love of tennis. He loved tennis so much, he could do anything for the game,” Janaki said.

After his retirement from Tatas, Aiyer continued to serve as honorary secretary, badminton and tennis of Tata Sports Club, and was the founder editor of the MSLTA quarterly newsletter.

The funeral was held today evening at Sion crematorium.

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