Jamsetji Merwanji

Career

He was a Parsi who worked as a "marker" (club professional) at the Bombay Gymkhana. In 1903 in England, he played Gilbert Browne at Queen"s Club and Prince"s Club for the vacant world title, winning by five games to one. The contest did not take place until 1911, when several Indian sports teams journeyed to Britain around the coronation of George V and 1911 Imperial Conference.

Jumanji easily beat Baerlein in a warm-up match, but Williams, 17 years Jumanji"s junior, beat him at Queen"s Club by five games to nil.

Achievements

• He was finally challenged in late 1909, for 5,000 rupees, by Charles Williams, who had beaten amateur E. M. Baerlein to become English champion.

Views

The world title was contested by challenge, and the distance between India and Britain or America meant he never had to defend his title until 1911.