Dipu Ghosh (born 17 June 1940) is a former

badminton Badminton is a racquet sport played using racket (sports equipment), racquets to hit a shuttlecock across a net (device), net. Although it may be played with larger teams, the most common forms of the game are "singles" (with one player per s ...

player from India who shined in the 1960s. His brother Raman Ghosh, his long time partner in doubles was also a prominent badminton talent in the country. Ghosh is a former national champion for seven times, in all the three possible categories. Notably in singles, he reached the finals six times but won only once in 1969. Most of the time he finished second to the best singles players of the country that time like Nandu Natekar,

Suresh Goel Suresh Goel (20 June 1943 – 13 April 1978) was an Indian national badminton champion and a recipient of Arjuna award. Early life Goel was born in Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh in 1943. He started playing badminton at young age of 10 and at ...

and

Dinesh Khanna Dinesh Kumar Khanna is an Indian former badminton player. Career Khanna was the men's singles Asian champion in 1965, and became the first Indian to win an Asian badminton title on 14 November 1965. He won a bronze medal in the 1966 Commonw ...

. In doubles the Ghosh brothers reached every final between 1963 and 1970 by winning the title 5 times during this period. In the

1970 Thomas Cup The 1970 Thomas Cup was the eighth tournament of Thomas Cup, the most important men's badminton team competition in the world. The final set of ''ties'' (team matches) were held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Indonesia won its fourth title after beat ...

tie, India was beaten 2–7 by Indonesia. One of the victories was recorded by the Ghosh brothers, who defeated the pair of Indratno and Mintarja. Ghosh also played in the 1973 Thomas Cup where India lost to Canada 4–5. Other big victories for the Ghosh brothers were against All-England runners-up from Denmark

Svend Pri Svend Pri (earlier Svend Andersen; March 18, 1945 – June 8, 1983) was a Danish badminton player who won numerous major titles from the mid-1960s through the mid-1970s. Career His play was marked by great power, tenacity, and tactical astu ...

and Per Walsøe when they came to India in 1969; one against

Punch Gunalan Datuk Punch Gunalan (4 February 1944 – 15 August 2012) was a Malaysian badminton player, who achieved success in both singles and doubles competitions. Badminton career Gunalan was a talented right-hander who spent what might have been some ...

and

Ng Boon Bee Dato' Ng Boon Bee (; 17 December 1937 – 3 August 2022) was a Malaysian badminton player who excelled from the 1960s through the early 1970s. His success in doubles earned him recognition as one of greatest doubles players in badminton histo ...

, the Malaysian pairing in their home ground; and one against another team from Malaysia,

Tan Yee Khan Tan Yee Khan (; born 24 September 1940) is a former Malaysian badminton player who represented his country in badminton events around the world during the 1960s. Career Though capable of high level singles (he won Japan's "World Invitati ...

and Boon Bee, winners of the All-England in 1966.

Playing style

In partnership with his brother Raman, Dipu would be the main playmaker, creating the rallies with intricate manoeuvres at the net; also pressing the shuttle down on his opponents’ bodies and inducing them to lift the bird, while his partner employed his power-packed smash from the back.

Accident

In 1968, Dipu was the victim of an accident when a truck cannoned into his scooter from the rear as he was on his way to the Garden Reach court for badminton practice. Dipu was dragged for some distance, and his right thigh was badly injured. Bleeding heavily, he was rushed to the nearest Railway hospital, some 8 km away. He was in the hospital for seven months, and the doctors had ruled him out of playing badminton anymore. However, he returned strongly and won the 1969 Indian nationals by beating

, having defeated

in semifinals before. He won the Arjuna Award same year.Government of India. Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. List of Arjuna Award Winners
/ref>

Retirement

Dipu retired from international competitive play in early 1973 and moved into coaching while continuing with the Indian Railways, throughout his career in India; and only took voluntary retirement in 1990. He was Iran’s national coach during the 1974 Asian Games and also coached the Indian team before the 1982 Asiad in New Delhi.

References

External links

* Indian male badminton players Indian badminton coaches Recipients of the Arjuna Award Indian national badminton champions Living people 1940 births Commonwealth Games badminton players for India Badminton players at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games {{India-badminton-bio-stub