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A Legend Leaves Indian Table Tennis Stronger
After more than two decades of an illustrious career, Indian table tennis icon Achanta Sharath Kamal played his final international match at the WTT Star Contender in Chennai. In a fitting end, the 42-year-old bowed out in the round of 16 to Snehit Suravajjula, a 24-year-old Indian paddler who grew up idolizing him. Despite the 0-3 defeat, Sharath can take pride in the fact that he leaves the sport in a much better place than when he found it.
The Face of Indian Table Tennis says Goodbye !
Sharath-Kamal-wins-gold-at-2022-CWG
Sharath has been the face of Indian table tennis for over a decade, inspiring a new generation of players. His final match against a promising youngster feels like a symbolic passing of the torch, showing how far Indian table tennis has come under his influence. Though Sharath may have hoped for a deeper run in the tournament, especially after playing doubles with Snehit, he recognizes the shift in mentality among younger players—a shift he helped cultivate. They now play to win, no matter who is across the table.
Asked whether he preferred facing a foreign player in his last match, Sharath admitted, “It would’ve been ideal,” but he was happy for Snehit’s strong performance in the tournament. Snehit’s run ended in the quarterfinals, where he lost to France’s Thibault Poret.
No looking Back Now
Achanta-Sharath-Kamal
Despite still being in exceptional form, Sharath had no regrets about retiring. He made the decision six months ago and was mentally prepared for this transition. “Once you decide, your mind stops working toward further growth in competition,” he said, ensuring his exit was on his own terms.
As for the future of Indian table tennis, Sharath remains optimistic. “There’s a strong bench strength,” he assured, naming promising talents like Ankur Bhattacharjee, Payas Jain, and Anirban Ghosh. Players like Manav, Manush, and Snehit have already made their mark, while Harmeet Desai and G Sathiyan now lead as senior pros. However, Sharath acknowledges that playing at a high level until 42, as he did, will be challenging for this new generation due to the growing number of tournaments and increasing competition.
Presumption
Achanta-Sharath-Kamal.
Though stepping away from competition feels surreal, Sharath won’t be far from the sport. He holds key roles as co-chair of the ITTF Athletes’ Commission and vice-chairperson of the IOA’s Athletes’ Commission. Reflecting on his decision, he said, “I’m happy with my decision. I’m not thinking about the past or the future—I’m just content in the present.”
Written by Dhyey Parekh
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