Jamsetji Merwanji ( also spelled Jamsetjee ; born 1871/2 ) was an Indian professional racquets player , who was world champion of the sport from 1903 to 1911 . 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 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 . His closest rival in India was his brother Padanji , who was a marker in Pune . 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 . 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
1911 Imperial Conference
1911 Imperial Conference
Jamsetji Merwanji