Veteran table tennis star A. Sharath Kamal candidly admitted that India’s final standing at the 28th Asian Table Tennis Team Championship was tough to accept. However, he remains steadfastly optimistic, believing firmly that the emerging ‘Gen Next’ is perfectly poised to carry on and even surpass his remarkable legacy.
“While they might have aimed for more, this tournament provided an invaluable learning experience for our men’s team,” Sharath shared with The Hindu. As the Brand Ambassador for the championship—which marked its return to India after 16 years—he observed, “Competing under such immense pressure is never easy, yet their spirit and raw potential shone brightly. Indian table tennis is undoubtedly on an upward trajectory, and I’m convinced this youthful squad will propel the sport to extraordinary new heights in the years ahead.”
Sharath himself was a crucial part of India’s men’s team, which had previously secured a bronze medal in each of the last three continental championships. The women’s team, captained by Manika Batra, also clinched a bronze at the 2024 edition held in Astana, Kazakhstan.
In this recent championship, the men’s squad, featuring only captain Manav Thakkar with prior senior team experience, finished in sixth place after a quarterfinal loss to eventual silver medallists Hong Kong. The women’s team faced a similar fate, falling to Singapore in the quarterfinals and then losing both their playoff matches, ultimately placing eighth.
“The absence of Sreeja was certainly felt by the women’s team, but they demonstrated immense resilience and gained crucial exposure that will undoubtedly make them stronger,” noted Sharath, who concluded his illustrious two-decade-long career in the sport back in March.
Sreeja, India’s top-ranked paddler, was unfortunately forced to withdraw from the tournament due to a shoulder injury sustained during training in China. While the men’s team successfully retained their spot in the Champions Division, the women’s team will now need to compete in the qualifying division in the upcoming edition.