Paris Olympics: India’s table tennis legend Sharath Kamal lists his five special Olympics moments

Achanta Sharath Kamal has been face of Indian table tennis for over two deces w. And 42-year-old will mark a record fifth Olympic appearance at Paris Olympics 2024. He is also male flag-bearer for Indian contingent.

multiple-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist also played a pivotal role in helping India create history as men’s team qualified for Olympic Games for first time in history. And Sharath pointed out time and again that qualifying as a team could become catalyst of growth for sport in India.

table tennis supremo, who has also been mainstay of Chennai Lions team in Ultimate Table Tennis, has been inspiring numerous young table tennis players pursuing a dream of playing for country.

During an interview with Ultimate Table Tennis, Sharath, who me his Olympic debut at 2004 Ans Games, spoke about his top five Olympic moments as he prepares to give his best shot at a medal in Paris.

1. Unexpected lunch alongside tennis legend Roger Federer

Going to first-ever Olympics is a special moment for any athlete. It is about soaking in atmosphere, feeling special vibe of Games vill and interacting with sportspersons from various disciplines.

And understandably, Sharath’s top-of--chart Olympic moment is when he shared a table with Swiss tennis legend Roger Federer in dining hall in 2004. And watching camarerie between him and USA’s Andy Roddick was just icing on cake.

“One day I was just out for lunch and as I was entering from this side, re was ar person coming from or side with a tennis bag and hair let loose. I feel like I have seen him somewhere. I couldn’t recognise who he was with his hair let loose. We pass each or, we actually cross paths. He goes to give his bag at bagg keeping area. I walk in, take my plate looking at what to eat and it suddenly strikes me. Man, it’s Roger Federer.

“I was very shy n. So, I took something to eat and searched for him. He was sitting at one of tables all by himself. I went as close as possible. I didn’t want to get in his place but still got close and I was eating [on same table]. And n suddenly, a guy comes in with a reverse hat and shorts and y are clapping hands. I look at him and it’s Andy Roddick,” Sharath recalled.

2. Taking a game against legendary Ma Long

China’s Ma Long is regarded as one of greatest table tennis players of all time and was coming into Tokyo Olympics as defending champion. Tokyo Games h been postponed by a year due to Covid pandemic and it h been a real struggle for Indian sportspersons to prepare well for Games due to a long lockdown and subsequent second wave.

Sharath h gotten better of Portugal’s Tiago Apolonia in second round and was facing Ma Long in third. “ match against Ma Long was one of best I have ever played in my career. Out of five times I have played with him, I have won just one set against him and that was in Tokyo. And I am very proud of what happened re, especially coming in after Covid.

“India h a very tough situation especially after second wave. People in rest of world started ir training back and, mid-way in lockdown in India, we were still confined to home workouts, I was playing on my terrace. It was very tough. I was training all time in India with limited resources we h. From that difficult mindset to getting to Olympics and doing my best, I really feel I did well.”

Sharath won second game 11-8 but went down fighting 4-1 (7-11, 11-8, 11-13, 4-11, 4-11) in match. Later, Ma Long went on to win gold medal.

3. A knee injury couldn’t dampen Sharath’s spirits

Sharath h qualified for his second successive Olympics and h worked hard to prepare himself for 2008 Beijing Games by training in Europe with or top players. But just before start of competition, he slipped and fell during training and damd his knee.

However, inste of getting disheartened by injury, Sharath decided to fight it out and reached second round after beating Spaniard Alfredo Carneros. In second round, he faced his good friend Chen Weixing of Austria and pushed his much higher ranked opponent to five sets.

4. Experiencing ‘Mamba’ mentality

Although he was making his second Olympic appearance in 2008, he was still in awe of big international stars whom he could only see at Olympics st. And in Beijing, special moment for him was to watch US basketball legend Kobe Bryant in person at opening ceremony and witnessed ‘Mamba’ mentality from up close.

5. Pep talk with Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore before he clinched historic silver

India may be aiming to reach double figures on medals chart at Paris 2024 but in 2004, at Sharath’s first Olympic Games in Ans, winning even one medal would have been considered a big deal 20 years ago.

He was moving around Games vill in evening with team coach and w Table Tennis Federation of India Secretary General Kamlesh Mehta when latter asked him if he knew person y were passing by. Mehta n introduced Sharath to Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore who was considered to be India’s best medal prospect at Ans and was scheduled to compete in Double Trap final next day.

“Probably I disturbed him in his alone time but he was sitting outside and relaxing. Coach Kamlesh Mehta said, ‘Come, let’s go and wish him.’ And n we both went and he spoke very nicely, asked about my match etc. He went on to win medal and after he won medal, it was so easy for me to go and look at medal because I h alrey spoken to him night before.”

India will feature in team as well as individual events of table tennis in Paris and Sharath, in his fifth Olympics appearance, will be aiming to win that elusive table tennis medal for country. After Paris Olympics, top table tennis stars from world will eng in a high-volt action in Indiail Ultimate Table Tennis 2024 in Chennai from August 22 to September 7.