Chennai: Having won two bronze medals at the recently concluded Asian Games, India’s top-ranked Table Tennis player, Achanta Sharath Kamal, said that India now has a bright chance of a podium finish at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
“The medals in the Asian Games indicate that we can get an Olympic medal. I am saying this because out of the top ten paddlers in the world, nearly seven are from Asia and having surmounted the tough challenge to clinch the bronze medals is a big boost for us to try and win in Olympics,” he said.
Indian paddlers scripted history when the men’s team won the bronze, at the Asian Games, which is the country’s first ever medal in the sport at the Asiad. He also won one more bronze with Manika Batra in the mixed doubles category making it the best-ever outing for the country in the sport.
Sharath Kamal is confident that he can now qualify for three events – men’s singles, men’s team and mixed doubles – at the Tokyo Olympics. Speaking about mixed doubles, where paired up with Manika Batra, he said, “Mixed doubles is not my cup of tea because it is only the women who set up the game and the job of men is to finish off the rally. For all these years I couldn’t find a suitable partner to pair up with. But with Manika, I have got a very good partner.”
Speaking about the draw at the Asian Games, Sharath said since the matches were scheduled one behind the other, it helped the team get the rhythm. “We were continuously playing matches in one-day, shifting tables so it gave us the required rhythm. Our draw was also good and all the players gave more than their 100%,’ he said.
Sharath Kamal, who is ranked 35th in the ITTF rankings, also said that the backing from the Federation and the government is benefitting the players. “The camps under the experienced foreign coaches have really stabilised India’s standards at the International arena. Vigorous training and exposure in foreign pro tours, along with camps in China and Europe under Massimo Constantini are paying rich dividends with the way we perform.”
Sharath also said that he is fitter and ready to play till 2024. “I am a way better than what I was in terms of fitness. I think a lot of changes have happened in the last three years since I have started training in India. Training has become more personalised and that helps me focus a lot on the game. If I manage to stay fit and keep motivated I can go till 2024, but right now I am looking to go till 2020,” he said.
“I would also like to dedicate the two Asian Games medals to my coaches A. Srinivasa Rao (his father) and A Muralidhar Rao (uncle). They have been my fountain of knowledge, and stood by me through thick an thin of my performances over the last three decades,” he said.