Pune: Former Olympian Nikhil Kanetkar suffered a personal loss when his father, Dr. Subhash Kanetkar, passed away at his residence on Tuesday morning. He was 69.

Dr. Kanetkar, who was instrumental in setting up the Nikhil Kanetkar Badminton Academy back in 2011, was suffering with health issues for several months.

“The loss is huge. My father was the guiding force behind every success achieved. Right from encouraging to take up the sport, to playing for India at the highest level, to establishing an Academy to produce world class players and to the extent of encouraging me to play at the Seniors’ Championship which earned me the National title this year and the Men’s Singles 35-plus BWF World Senior Badminton Championship bronze medal,” said Nikhil Kanetkar.  

The funeral was held at Vaikunth Smashan Bhoomi, Tuesday evening.