FPJ Exclusive: Winning Olympic Medal Was A Goal, But No Regrets, Says Sharath Kamal

Table tennis legend Achanta Sharath Kamal rose from World ranking of around 300 to 30 and achieved 13 medals in the Commonwealth Games including seven golds. He also won two Asian games medals and the ten-time national champion enjoyed success at the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) events also. He represented India in the five Olympians but an Olympic medal has eluded him. However, the Khel Ratna awardee (2022) who also won Padma shri (2019) and Arjuna award (2004) has no regrets.

"I have all the medals in the cabinet except the Olympic medal. The goal was to win an Olympic gold for India. But when I started my ITTF ranking was around 300. The chances rise to win a medal when you are in the top 10. We had the best chance of winning a team medal in the Tokyo Olympics," Kamal said in an exclusive interaction with free Press Journal during a visit as special guest to the office premises. He had notable victories against top-20 players in the world during his career and put up a strong fight against the legendary Ma Long at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

In March, the star paddler bid farewell to his international career spanning over two decades, after making a final appearance at the WTT Star Contender in Chennai. He is keen to contribute to TT and is currently Co-Chair of the ITTF Athlete's Commission alongside Chinese legend Liu Shiwen. He also serves as an ITTF Foundation ambassador, promoting grassroots table tennis development worldwide.

"I have no regrets about my professional career, I tried everything I could do whenever I played and I am glad I made lakhs and lakhs of players believe that if Sharath Kamal can do it, they also can do it. I now have goal to produce an Olympic medallist. We broke the Japanese barrier during the 2018 Asian Games. Now, behind the scenes I will work to find the talent and ensure to arrange the support and requirements to get Olympic medal in table tennis for India in 8-12 years,"

Kamal who had the honour to be the flag bearer of India at the Paris Olympics along with PV Sindhu was hopeful India can break the Chinese and Japanese barrier in the Olympics. Incidentally Sindhu had halted the dominance of Chinese at the Olympics by winning silver at the Rio Olympics and followed it up with other memorable wins against the better ranked Chinese opponents in top level events.

Indian challenge in ITTF World Cup

Sharath hoped India will do well in the ongoing ITTF World Cup 2025 in Macau where India is represented by Manika Batra and Sreeja Akula in the women's categories. Both started with wins in their first match on Monday. "There first aim will be to do well in Group Stages and qualify for the knock-outs. They have the promise to do well and they have shown it in the past," said Kamal who partnered famously with Batra in the 2018 Asian Games to win bronze for India.

Kamal bursted on the scene with 2002 Commonwealth Games but the defining moment came in the 2006 Commonwealth Games where he became the first Indian to win a singles gold medal in the sport. He went on to earn many laurels and continues to inspire young paddlers even after retirement.