“Sport is where we learn a lot of right attributes in life. It is where a lot of character is built into us as a player when you play. The commitment, the discipline at a very young age is inculcated into us. As we grow, it does not matter if you play sport or not. We will be a sportsperson for life and that very aspect makes us strong, not only mentally, but physically as well,” stated legendary former India table tennis player, Achanta Sharath Kamal, on the sidelines of an age-group All Goa Major Ranking Table Tennis Tournament in Chandor on Sunday.
The five-time Olympian, pleased at the gathering at the tournament added, “I see the enthusiastic parents, who are feeling the victories and losses of their kids as their own. That is how much the parents and coaches want our kids to win. The number of sacrifices that they do, people do not speak about it.”
“As a U-10 player, I was not very good. I started playing the sport at a very young age of four. I still remember at the district tournament, there were only three players in the U-10 category, and I got the bronze medal. That is how I started, but of course over time, I became the best in the state (Tamil Nadu) in the age categories. But it still took a very long time. I played for the country for the first time when I was 20 years old. It took me 16 long years,” India’s most distinguished paddler disclosed.
Unconditionally asserting it takes a grind to be the best, as was in his case, he agreed that all players present at the ongoing tournament want to be champions, and their parents want them to be too. “That is why we train so hard, and the reason our parents are putting in so much efforts and the coaches are making sure they train well,” Sharath mentioned.
“But then again champions are not made overnight. Good things always take time. It is built from your passion, dedication and commitment that will take you a long way in life. You may or may not be a champion in sport, but you will be in life,” the 10-time national champion added.
Over a two-decade competitive career, the much-decorated stalwart of Indian table tennis, had an unfulfilled dream – to win an Olympic medal. In reply to a question by The Goan, Sharath expressed his determination to realise the dream through Indian potential. “I was chasing that dream until 2024 as a player. When I retired, I felt that the best way to fulfil the dream is by making sure that young talents coming from India have a realistic chance at an Olympic medal. Of course, that takes a lot of time and a lot of resources are required. But for me, with the various hats that I wear - as an administrator, a coach and a mentor, it is probably my only chance in my lifetime to win that Olympic medal. I cannot do it as a player, but I hope that one of these kids sitting out here fulfils that dream of mine over the years,” the flagbearer at Paris 2024 remarked.
On the structural changes, Indian Table Tennis needs right now to bridge the gap with powerhouse nations like China and Japan, the Arjuna Awardee was optimistic on the foreseeable future.
“We are seeing a lot of talented young players. Even here, at the UTT 7 underway in Taleigao, you have Abhinandh P.B., Ankur Bhattacharjee, Syndrela Das, Divyanshi Bhowmick. There are a lot of young talents who are doing extremely well at the international level in the junior categories. The most important way forward is to help them in their transition. Across many Indian sports, not just table tennis, we lack that transition for them to progress from the juniors to seniors. The way how we can mentor them, how to get them to work along with the seniors and make sure that we work as a whole unit is important. If you see the successful sports in India, they do that very well where the younger crop is sent up quite early to be part of the national team. Of course, they might not be playing, but they are part of the training, and the exposure that happens. I think if we are able to create a structure and system where they are able to nurture their talents from the juniors to the seniors, I am quite sure we will be able to make the best in the seniors, the iconic table tennis star said.
