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Sports and games were very dear to his heart
The teachings of Tamil poet Bharathiyar and Swami Vivekananda were followed by Dr B Sivanthi Aditanar in letter and spirit. As much as he was interested in advocating the importance of education among the masses, he was equally keen on promoting and developing sports and games in the state.
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The fact that the entire Aditanar family comprised sportsmen dates back to the year 1790. In a keenly fought kabaddi tournament that year, a game that was very popular in the district, the Aditanars proved their mettle when their team Kayamozhi Adithans beat the Kattabomman team .
When the founder of Daily Thanthi, Si Pa Aditanar was studying at St. Joseph’s College in Tiruchy, he was an extraordinary football player and later he was unanimously chosen as the patron of a football club in Madurai.
He also revived the game of kabbadi in Tamil Nadu. Dr B Sivanthi Aditanar showed similar interest in sports that his father had shown. He was the captain of his college hockey team and played in several state-level hockey tournaments leading his team to several title triumphs.
He was also an excellent boxer, who went on to win first prizes in 1956-1957 and 1957-1958 boxing championships held in his college.
He was also was a champion shot-putter and discus thrower and grabbed several titles. He was also a very important member of his college volleyball team.
An outstanding NCC cadet:
Like Si Pa Aditanar, who took part in NCC in his college days, Dr B Sivanthi Aditanar joined the NCC (National Cadet Corps) at Presidency College. He rapidly climbed up the ranks and led the NCC contingent to New Delhi as Regimental Sergeant Major. He was awarded best cadet for winning in sports and games.
With the experience he gained in NCC, Dr Sivanthi Aditanar excelled in rifle shooting championships and won gold medals in state and national-level competitions. He was instrumental in making the sport popular in South India.
He donated a 14-acre land in Alamathi and created facilities for youngsters to train as fine shooters. Apart from this, he also conducted annual shooting competitions. An academy was started in his name to train youngsters.
He held the post of Secretary of Chennai Rifle Club for 20 years and was senior vice-president of Tamil Nadu Shooting Association.
Apart from promoting shooting, Dr B Sivanthi Aditanar took several efforts to include kabaddi, the sport for which his father showed great interest, at the Asian Games. The sport is now a regular feature in the Asiad ever since 1990.
He was also instrumental in forming Sun Paper Mills’ champion kabaddi team that won many tournaments. Dr B Sivanthi Aditanar’s immense contribution for developing the sport of volleyball in India will go down the annals of Indian volleyball history.
“During 1971, sportspersons in the state and the department needed a boost and Dr Sivanthi Adithanar was the one person to turn to,” said K Murugan, the federation’s principal secretary and former volleyball team captain.
It was only under Dr B Sivanthi Aditanar’s leadership that Tamil Nadu won several national-level volleyball championships. He was subsequently elected president of the Volleyball Federation of India in 1977.
He was the first person from the state to adorn the top-level post.
Before taking charge as the president of the federation, there were several volleyball associations in the country functioning without any coordination. This made the participation at international competitions difficult. Dr B Sivanthi Aditanar was determined to unite the associations and held a meeting in July 1977.
At the meeting, office-bearers of the state associations were appointed. At the first general body meeting of the federation, in which representatives of Ministry of Education and Indian Olympic Association took part, Dr B Sivanthi Aditanar was unanimously elected as the president. He remained the federation’s president till his demise.
He introduced several innovations to train volleyball players that eventually fructified. Tamil Nadu volleyball team which had won fifth place at the national meet went on to win gold medal in 1976.
Similarly, India secured fourth place at the ninth Asian Games. The team was in the eighth position in eighth Asian Games before. In 2009, he was re-elected president of the VFI. The Indian team won the gold medal at the 2010 South Asian Federation Games.
He was also elected as the president of the Swimming Federation of India and Karate Association of India. He supported several sports associations throughout his time.
Due to his love for sports and games and his actions to promote it, he was elected as Tamil Nadu Olympic Association in 2009. He was appointed as the vice-president of the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu in 1984, before being appointed as its president.
In 1978, Dr B Sivanthi Aditanar led a contingency to the Asian Games in Bangkok. That was the first time a Tamilian led the contingency in 50 years. He returned with 28 medals, of which 11 were gold medals, the highest medal tally for India in any event held abroad till date.
He was the first Indian to be bestowed the ‘Olympic Order of Merit’ award in 1995. In 1989, the International Federation of Volleyball honoured him with a gold medal and recognised his services to the sport.
Trophies are being given in his name for teams winning in national-level volleyball and university-level volleyball meets. Dr B Sivanthi Aditanar personally helped several deserving sportspersons who required assistance. He was moving force behind several Arjuna and Dronacharya awardees.
A Passionate Patron Of Sports
- He was the President of the Indian Olympic Association for 9 consecutive years
- Former Vice President of the Olympic Council of India
- Former Executive Vice President of the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) and the Former Chairman of the Finance Committee (FIVB)
- Former President of the Volleyball Federation and Swimming Federation of India
- Founder and Former President of the All India Karate-Do Federation
Visionary In Education
- Former Chairman of Dr. Sivanthi Aditanar College of Engineering, Arts & Science, Education, Physical Education, Nursing, Teacher Training Institute
- Former Chairman of Sivanthi Academy
- Former Chairman of Govindammal Aditanar Women’s College
- Former member of the Board of Management - YMCA College of Physical Education
A Celebrated Citizen
- He was the Sheriff of Madras for 2 terms (1981-82)
An Iconic Industrialist
- Former Director of India Cements & India Cements Capital & Finance
- Former Director of MIOT Hospitals
Prestigious Awards
- Recipient of the Padma Shri Award
- Recipient of the Shiromani Award
- Recipient of the Vijaya Shree Award
Honorary Doctorates
- The recipient of doctorates from Madurai Kamarajar University, Madras University, Annamalai University, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University and the Tamil Nadu Physical Education & Sports University
Former Member Of Senates & Syndicates
- Madurai Kamarajar University
- University of Madras
- Annamalai University
- Bharatidasan University
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