Chennai
Veteran paddler Sharath Kamal summed up the year aptly. “At the start of the year, if anyone would have said we will win one, let alone two medals at the Asiad, I would have laughed it off. It has been that kind of a year. Best ever year for me and for Indian table tennis,” said Sharath.
The men’s team exceeded its own expectations by winning a bronze at the Asian Games in Jakarta after stunning the mighty Japan in the quarter-finals. Sharath’s younger teammate G Sathiyan delivered under pressure, winning both his singles encounters against higher-ranked opponents.
The dream run did not end there as Sharath and Manika landed a mixed doubles bronze, which has given them the belief that they are good enough to win an Olympic medal. While the sport took giant strides, a star too was born, with Manika pocketing as many as four medals including two historic gold medals in women’s team and women’s singles at the CWG.
Considering the bar she has set for herself, the world number 52 will have to keep improving to compete with the global best. It was only fitting that she ended the year by becoming the first Indian to win the Breakthrough Star award at the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) awards in Incheon. Sharath and Sathiyan too ended 2018 on a high as they attained their best ever rankings. Sharath is 30th in the latest list and a place below him is Sathiyan.
“We have to keep performing to maintain the momentum. It is all about preparing for the 2020 Olympics now. Our best chance is in mixed doubles and Manika and I have already planned the roadmap leading up to the Tokyo Games,” said Sharath.
Next year will see the players featuring in 14 to 16 events as they aim for Olympic qualification.
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