“Like begets Like” is a well known scientific (genetic) fact meaning only a Lion comes out of a Lion, as it were. Extend this to a skill activity like sports or any performing art: the rule will hold good except in a few rare cases. Chennai/ Tamil Nadu has many examples of this kind, especially in a few sports and in the Tamil film world. And, some such offspring have made it to the top of their chosen field like their parents.
Focussing on sports in Chennai, which has a rich sporting history, city born girl Krishna, the younger daughter of the highly talented former national basketball couple Jaishankar Menon-Prasanna, has been rising fast, although in a university in the United States as a champion shot putter (part of athletics sport). She has been setting new national records throwing the sphere to new distances with her strong right arm and shoulder. What’s more, she is waiting with hope to prove during the next Commonwealth Games and the Olympic Games in Los Angeles USA, that her achievements thus far are not a flash in the pan.
Her illustrious father, Jaishankar reveals to Madras Musings, with a hint of pride, that Krishna was attracted to athletics more than basketball, to which she was first introduced by her parents. In fact, it was her physical education teacher who picked her for the athletics competition in SBOA School & Junior College in Anna Nagar, and Krishna has remained steadfast to it. Later, at the college level, when she was training in a sports academy at Guntur in Andhra Pradesh, her coach from Jamaica advised her to take to shot put rather than discus throw.
According to Jaishankar and Prasanna, their daughter has laid her path in the sport of her choice herself: “Krishna started off in earnest with tennis. Of course, we put her in basketball. But she grew interested in athletics after taking part in her school competition.
Jaishankar adds that Krishna’s reluctance to pursue basketball stemmed from her belief that her parents had not received due honours for their achievements in basketball nor for the service rendered for further development of the sport in this part of the country.
Krishna Jaishankar (left) finished third in the Mountain West Indoor track and field championship in Albuquerque (New Mexico). Picture courtesy: The Hindu.
“We are confident that she has the determination, will power as well as the focus necessary to achieve what she aims for in life,” says Jaishankar pointing out that at the young age of 18 she went to Jamaica all alone to pursue her objective. She was named “Krishna” by her mother Prasanna who is a great devotee of Guruvayurappa. And on her part like Sri Krishna of the Bhagavad Gita, this rising athlete pursues her own philosophy: “Believe in yourself. Do not allow the world to determine who you are.”
Krishna moved to El Paso in USA in August 2021 and then to Eugene for further coaching in shot put. The beginning of this year proved to be the high point in affirming her talent. In the professional competitions in the USA on behalf of her University, Krishna emulated three standing national records.
Much like the above story of the former basketball couple, there is another instance of sports running in the family. Former India hockey captain, twice Olympian and Asian Games star Md. Riaz’s daughter, 18-year old Shameena Riaz is a rising star in squash. Inspired to take to the sport when she happened to accompany her father to the Madras Cricket Club (MCC) as a 10-year old, she gave up skating and took to squash like a fish to water. Since then her progress has been laudable what with her representation as a member of the Indian team in two world junior championships, winning the gold medal in the team event in the 2023 National Games and bronze in the 2022 edition. She also proved her mettle in the 2023 Khelo India Games on home turf Chennai, winning a silver and a bronze. All this was possible because of the great encouragement of her parents, especially father Riaz, who wanted her to become a sportsperson. Shameena’s mother Mehnaaz was also a hockey player and had represented Tamil Nadu in the National Championships. Shameena’s progress in squash has been possible due to financial assistance from the Tamil Nadu Government.
Talking about squash, there is another story of sport in the bloodline in Chennai. Former Indian cricketer Susan Itticheria, though born in Kerala, had played for India from Tamil Nadu, in seven Tests, including India’s inaugural women’s Test match in 1976 and in two ODIs. She married Pallikal, a businessman. Their daughter Dipika took instead to squash and excelled. Dipika was the first Indian player to break into the ranks of the top 10 in the world. She represented India in seven world championships, four Commonwealth championships and six Asian Games editions, winning 11 titles in her career. She is married to another Tamil Nadu sportstar, former India cricketer Dinesh Karthik.
The story does not end there: another former India sporting talent, triathlon star Amudha’s children – daughter Pooja Aarti is an up-and-coming squash player, and son Raghu in swimming.