While wushu’s most famous star Bimoljit Singh is a self-taught expert, his mate M Sadanand believes in distant learning. Sadanand’s expertise happens to be in Tai Chi, a wushu subsidiary, where he is ranked 15th in the world. Ask him who is his guru and prompt comes the reply: “The best Tai Chi teacher in the world, Li Dani.”

That’s a surprise, since it comes from a CRPF constable posted in Jharonda Kalan, a sleepy suburb in the outskirts of Delhi. But he clarifies: “I have a number of Li Dani CDs and so I call him my coach,” he says.

Sadanand was a student of Class VII when his father wanted him to take up some sport to build his physical strength as he was very lean and weak. So much so that he couldn’t even walk the stretch from school to home without panting or gasping for breath. A studious kind, Sadanand started off with football then switched to tae-kwon-do before finally settling with wushu.

After a string of laudable performances in the domestic circuit, Sadanand was selected to represent India in the 7th World Championships in Macau, China, in 2003. Once there, Sadanand became friendly with a number of competitors from the participating countries. Best among them was Liu Yu Chin of Chinese Taipei with whom Sadanand struck a good rapport. “We are constantly in touch via e-mail. And she sends me CDs of latest techniques and whatever new is happening in the sport,” added Sadanand.

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