The Face of Table Tennis in India: Achanta Sharath Kamal

Table tennis was an obscure sport in the country till a Tamil Nadu boy stunned one and all and won the Gold at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. The fruits of which we are still enjoying with India bagging both the women’s and the men’s team gold this time around at the Gold Coast.

Born in 1982 in Chennai and graduating from Loyola College, the 36-year-old has for long been carrying the mantle of Indian table tennis. His father became his first coach and he credits his learnings from childhood as the reason for his success. The current players seek inspiration from his determination and his will to improve. He has constantly been in the top-50 of the world rankings for many years.

We list down his major career achievements:

• First Indian to win at the Champion Egypt Pro Tour held at Cairo in July 2010
• First Indian to win the US Open Champion held at Grand Rapids in July 2010
• Bronze medal in Indian Pro Tour at New Delhi in July 2010
• Won National Championship five times
• Gold medal in men’s doubles at the 2010 Commonwealth Games at Delhi

While 2018 might be his last Commonwealth Games, the nation would be hoping that he caps off with a men’s singles medal.