PRITPAL S. (PAL) CHAWLA

Condolences & Memories (7 entries)

• Our condolences to family of Pal, and to Archie & Pat's family. So sorry to hear of his passing. Pal was an awesome badminton player and a badminton coach. Pal, Archie and Pat were awesome coaches for our high school players whenever we had the opportunity to take them to the excellent camps. Thank you for the experiences with amazing coaches. - Posted by: Lloyd & Jeannette Roche (friend and fan) on: Jun 13, 2021

• Beautiful tribute to Pal in today's paper. My sincere condolences to all his family and my love to Archie, Pat, Sean & Tara. - Posted by: Audra Szczepanik (Cousin) on: Jun 12, 2021

• First I just want to say how sorry I am that Pal is no longer with us. My love to his immediate family and to Archie and Pat, Sean and Tara. I had the fortune to work with Pal at the Winter Club for many years when I taught tennis and he was the Badminton pro there. We had such great conversations and he mentored me on how to run great tennis ladders and leagues for the members. He was so experienced and knowledgeable about running a successful program. I so enjoyed our conversations. He also would recommend great Indian restaurants for me to go to for lunches. The newspaper article by Geoff Kirbyson in today's paper (June 12th) is such a great reminder of how talented Pal was and how accomplished. I didn't realize that Pal and my paths crossed first at the 1972 Canada Winter Games, me for Figure Skating and him for Badminton. As always I would have loved to sit with him to chat and reminisce again about our time working together but instead, I will just have to relive those special memories in my mind. My love and condolences to all who knew and loved him. Shawnee - Posted by: Shawnee Scatliff (friend and former colleague) on: Jun 12, 2021

• It is with great fondness the I, and my family, remember Pal. We all took lessons and were encouraged no matter how well, or badly (me), we played. Pal was amazing in teaching badminton and teaching about grace in the face of certain frustration, I am sure, with a few of his less attentive students, me being one of them. In later years my mother would see him at the WWC and have a short conversation as he dashed off to teach and when he retired, when he simply came to exercise. She would then call me and tell me that she had seen "Pal" and had a short natter. My mother, Donna, remembers her last conversation with Pal and his wife at VGH about a year ago, where they were both receiving treatment, again with great fondness, and again calling me to say that she had seen Pal and had a short natter "just to catch up". He was a wonderful man, devoted to his family and to his craft. Our deepest sympathy to Pal's family. He will be missed. - Posted by: Sidney Macaw (student) on: Jun 06, 2021

• I met Pal many years ago while doing some renovation work at his house, and I did renovations for Pal for many years afterwards. Pal had a big heart, a very generous man, and typically, a very nice person. Pal will always be with you. First in his life, then forever in your memory. We express our sincere condolences to the family. Barney & Rose - Posted by: Barney Couture (Friend) on: Jun 05, 2021

• Pal was my coach at two very different times. With his arrival at the WWC in the early 1970s, he coached me as a junior. Lessons consisted of playing singles for an hour -- where he ran me ragged and occasionally let me have serve, but never let me have a point. (He would then go from my lesson to those with my friends where he tirelessly and with great patience repeated "the lesson"). In the early 2000s, when I returned to badminton, there he was. And again, we would go out on the court and he would run me ragged, though he had changed the routine -- I did all the running and he just stood in one place and fed shots all over the court, always perfectly placed to get me out of position. Pal, of course, was still coaching juniors in those later years but it was a huge loss to them that they never got to see him play in tournaments, And of course no You Tube videos to record it for posterity. One word describes Pal's style of play: graceful. In a game that has come to stress aggression and power, watching Pal play was like watching a complex dance with his gentle, flowing movement and an emphasis on outwitting the opponent tactically rather than overpowering him with blunt force. The matches where he and Archie were either on the same side of the court (in doubles) or on opposite side (in mixed) were epic. I still remember them. To the family, thank you so very much for sharing Pal with all of us over the years. While I didn't appreciate it as a teenager, when I returned to the sport years later, all those nights and weekends that he spent with his athletes and not with you did not go unnoticed, at least by me. Know that there are hundreds throughout the country who are sharing your grieve. You are in our thoughts and prayers. Pal will be missed. - Posted by: Tom Saunders (Former athlete and always friend) on: Jun 05, 2021

• Fond wishes for comfort from your beautiful memories. The Baizley/Ryding family. - Posted by: Lesley Baizley (Friend) on: Jun 05, 2021