Vijay Amritraj honored his mother, Maggie Amritraj, during a Mother’s Day celebration hosted by the Valley Indian Seniors Association in Los Angeles, reflecting on her significant impact on his life and career.
The Valley Indian Seniors Association (VISA) recently celebrated Mother’s Day in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles, featuring tennis legend Vijay Amritraj as the guest speaker. During the event, Amritraj paid tribute to his mother, Maggie Amritraj, highlighting her profound influence on his life and professional achievements.
Amritraj shared poignant memories from his childhood, a time often marked by frequent hospitalizations due to various illnesses. He recounted how his mother attended his classes during these periods, taking notes and later teaching him lessons from his hospital bed. Reflecting on her unwavering support, he remarked, “My life is 99% her effort and 1% mine.”
According to Amritraj, it was his mother’s tenacious spirit that played a crucial role in his physical recovery. She encouraged him to start running, beginning with just 10 yards. Over time, these short distances evolved into five-mile runs at 5 a.m., during which she would drive alongside him to ensure his safety.
The Amritraj family’s connection to tennis can be traced back to his father’s side, but it was Maggie Amritraj who firmly believed that all three of her sons could reach the professional level. To finance the expensive lessons and equipment required for the sport, she established a corrugated boxes factory in the family garage.
Even after suffering a severe industrial accident that left her right hand injured, Maggie Amritraj’s resolve remained unshaken. Despite doctors predicting she would never write or drive again, she regained those abilities and continued to drive her sons to their practices. Amritraj credits the success of himself and his brothers to the courage and hard work they witnessed in their mother.
During the event, Amritraj also shared a quote that hung on the wall of the brothers’ room, attributed to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: “The heights by great men reached and kept Were not attained by sudden flight, But they, while their companions slept, Were toiling upward in the night.”
Vijay Amritraj, who served as Asia’s Number 1 tennis player for 14 years and won 16 ATP singles titles, has become a prominent figure for the South Asian diaspora. He is a recipient of the Padma Bhushan from the government of India and has served as a UN Messenger of Peace. He concluded his remarks by stating, “My greatest talent was being born to the right parents.”
This heartfelt tribute to his mother resonated with attendees, underscoring the values of perseverance and dedication that have shaped Amritraj’s life and career.
According to India Currents, the event served as a reminder of the vital role mothers play in nurturing and supporting their children’s dreams.