Veteran Indian Table Tennis Star Achanta Sharath Kamal Announces Retirement Post WTT Star Contender
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Synopsis
Achanta Sharath Kamal, India's legendary table tennis player and five-time Olympian, has revealed his retirement plans, with the upcoming WTT Star Contender in Chennai being his final competition in the national colors. Sharath’s illustrious career includes numerous accolades, including Commonwealth Games medals and an Arjuna Award.
Key Takeaways
- Sharath Kamal announces retirement from table tennis.
- His last competition will be the WTT Star Contender in Chennai.
- He is a five-time Olympian and a ten-time national champion.
- Sharath has won multiple Commonwealth and Asian Games medals.
- He has played a crucial role in Indian table tennis history.
Chennai, March 5 (NationPress) Achanta Sharath Kamal, a five-time Olympian and India's most renowned table tennis player, has declared his retirement from the sport. The upcoming WTT Star Contender in Chennai will mark his final appearance representing India.
At the age of 42, Sharath, a remarkable ten-time national champion, is currently ranked as India's premier men’s singles player, sitting at 42nd in the latest WTT rankings.
"Having played my first international tournament in Chennai, it feels fitting that my last match in the national colors will also be here. I possess Commonwealth and Asian Games medals, but an Olympic medal eludes me. I hope to see that dream fulfilled through the upcoming generations of talent," Sharath expressed during a press conference held in Chennai.
Throughout his two-decade-long career, Sharath has secured 13 medals at the Commonwealth Games (including seven golds) and two bronze medals at the Asian Games, along with five Olympic appearances and two ITTF Pro Tour titles.
He claimed his inaugural national title in 2003 and earned his first international medal at the 2004 Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships, reaching a career milestone by qualifying for the 2004 Athens Olympics.
In 2004, he was honored with the Arjuna Award and achieved five consecutive national titles. A landmark achievement came in 2006 when he clinched a historic singles gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, alongside another gold in the men’s team event.
Sharath made history in 2010 by becoming the first Indian table tennis player to win an ITTF Pro Tour title at the Egypt Open. He further enhanced his legacy by winning two additional Commonwealth Games gold medals in 2010, one in men’s team and another in men’s doubles.
Despite experiencing a challenging few years where he didn’t secure any titles or medals at the 2014 Commonwealth Games or Asian Games, and failing to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics, he bounced back remarkably. At the 2018 Commonwealth Games, he won a gold, silver, and two bronze medals, along with two bronze medals at the 2018 Asian Games.
By 2019, he achieved a personal best ranking of world No. 30 and won a record ninth national title that same year. A year later, at 37, he captured his second international title at the Oman Open, a decade after his first.
During his fourth Olympic appearance at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Games, Sharath faced a tough match, losing 4-1 to the Chinese legend and eventual gold medalist Ma Long in the round of 32.
Nonetheless, Sharath has demonstrated remarkable resilience, winning bronze medals in both men’s team and men’s doubles events at the 2021 Asian Table Tennis Championships.
In April 2022, he clinched his 10th national title following a thrilling 4-3 victory over Sathiyan Gnanasekaran in the finals. He also triumphed at the Commonwealth Games 2022, securing the gold medal in men’s singles.
Additionally, he won the mixed-team gold medal at CWG 2022 with Sreeja Akula, along with a men’s doubles silver and another gold in the men’s team event. That same year, he received India's highest sporting accolade, the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award.
Sharath was part of the Indian table tennis team at the Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou, playing a crucial role in securing a team quota for Paris 2024, marking a historical first for India in the Olympics.
He proudly served as India's flag bearer during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics alongside celebrated shuttler PV Sindhu, becoming the first Indian table tennis player to receive this honor. Unfortunately, his men's singles journey concluded prematurely following an opening round loss.
