He had helped Chhattisgarh win national titles at all levels

Rajesh Patel, one of India’s best basketball coaches, passed away on Monday, while travelling from the Federation Cup in Chittoor to the National junior basketball championship in Ludhiana, possibly following a heart attack.

The 61-year-old Rajesh was travelling against medical advice.

“I had received him at the airport from Chennai and helped him board the train to Ludhiana. After about an hour (Monday afternoon), he had a health problem. He was taken for medical assistance in an ambulance in Panipat, but it was too late. They did a post-mortem and we are awaiting the report,” said his son Ankit Patel, who works as a tennis coach in the capital.

Rajesh had suffered a severe heart attack about a year and a half back, but kept travelling for basketball. The cremation will be held in Bhilai on Wednesday.

A gold medallist in basketball coaching from the National Institute of Sports, Rajesh has the unique record of helping the Chhattisgarh teams win national titles at all levels from mini junior to seniors, the Federation Cup and the National Games.

His teams won about 100 medals in all in the national championships at various levels over the years, and more than half of them were gold.

His energy, combined with his fine understanding of the game, and the ability to groom players to a high standard saw him guide the Chhattisgarh women’s team to the national title past the formidable Railways.

Lara Dutta, wife of Mahesh Bhupathi, has been working on a film on Rajesh. “Lara has been working with him and his team on their story. His death has come as a shock. There is work to be done, but the story is amazing. So, she will get it done,” said Bhupathi.