New Delhi, July 22: Few understand the evolution of Indian table tennis better than Achanta Sharath Kamal. From leading the country's rise on the stage to becoming one of its most decorated paddlers, the veteran has witnessed every phase of the sport's journey.
Today, even after stepping away from active sport, he believes Indian table tennis is entering its most promising era. The Khel Ratna Awardee is now trasitioning from an athlete into an administrator with his role as a member of the Athletes Commission at Indian Olympic Assoctiation (IOA).
For years, Indian table tennis was largely judged by its success at the Commonwealth Games and Sharath was a flagbearer with record seven gold, three silver and as many bronze medals.
The Chennai-born
athlete, however, believes the conversation has moved beyond regional dominance. With Indian pairs climbing the world rankings, historic victories over China and a talented crop of juniors making waves globally, he feels the country is closing the gap on the sport's traditional powerhouses.
"I wouldn't agree with the notion that India isn't winning major international medals," Sharath said in a virtual interaction feliciated by SAI. "We are winning so many medals. We are world No. 2 in doubles now. We beat China in China at the last Asian Games. These are performances we've never seen before. "
The former Commonwealth champion points to India's growing consistency across levels. While the senior team has delivered medals at the Asian Games and climbed the world rankings, the junior circuit has produced equally encouraging signs.
He highlighted youngsters like Syndrela Das, Divyanshi Bhaumik, PB Abhinand, Ankur Bhattacharya and Premaj Bhattacharya as the faces of India's next generation.
"They're already winning world titles and doing well on the WTT circuit. By 2032 and 2036, I'm quite sure India will be in strong medal contention at the Olympic Games," he said.
The missing link: Bridging junior and senior table tennis
While optimistic, Sharath believes Indian table tennis still has one crucial hurdle to overcome - ensuring that promising juniors transition seamlessly into the senior circuit.
According to him, success in age-group events alone cannot prepare players for the demands of elite competition. Responding to the question about giving enough international exposure to the youngsters, he said, "Youngsters shouldn't only play junior tournaments. They need exposure to senior events as well. "
The 44-year-old revealed that discussions are underway to tweak India's international exposure plans by sending junior players alongside senior squads for overseas tournaments.
"The suggestion is to send four senior athletes and two juniors instead of only six seniors. That way, young players get used to the environment, interact with senior players and understand what the senior circuit demands. Winning junior tournaments doesn't always prepare you for what's waiting at the senior level," he explained.
The mentoring aspect, he believes, could be just as valuable as the competition itself. "When youngsters suddenly enter the senior circuit, everything feels new. If they have already travelled and trained alongside experienced players, that transition becomes much easier. "
Medal hopes at the Asian Games
India has enjoyed a rich medal haul at 2022 Birmingham, winning 5 medals, including 3 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze. The sport, however, isn't going to feature at the curtailed quadrennial event in Glasgow 2026, depriving the country of several potential medals. Fans and experts hope for a better show at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan from the Indian paddlers.
With the Asian Games approaching, Sharath feels India's strongest medal opportunities lie in doubles and team events rather than singles.
He backed men's doubles pair Manav Thakkar and Manush Shah, women's combinations led by Sreeja Akula and Diya Chitale, and India's mixed doubles partnerships to challenge Asia's best.
"As far as team events and doubles are concerned, we have a fairly decent chance of getting medals," he said.
While acknowledging that singles competition remains considerably tougher due to the dominance of China, Japan and Korea, Sharath believes India's improving world rankings have created genuine opportunities.
"Singles will always be difficult, but with the rankings our players have today, there is definitely an outside chance. "
Commonwealth Games as India's Olympic pathway
Sharath also sees India's ambition to host the CWG 2030 edition in Ahmedabad as a major opportunity for the country's sporting ecosystem. According to him, hosting another multi-sport event would provide valuable experience ahead of India's bid for the 2036 Olympic Games.
"The Commonwealth Games gives us the right pathway towards hosting the 2036 Olympics," he said. "It's not just about building infrastructure. It's about learning how to organise major events, understanding logistics, interacting with international federations and strengthening the entire sporting ecosystem. "
The Tamil Nadu athlete also emphasised that India's sporting rise depends not only on athletes but also on stronger governance and administration. "It's not just the players who make a sporting nation strong. Administrators, coaches and the entire ecosystem have to grow together. "
From champion to mentor
Having retired from international competition, Sharath now wears multiple hats - Deputy Chef de Mission for the Asian Games, High Performance Director at the Tamil Nadu High Performance Centre and mentor to India's national table tennis players.
The transition, he says, has given him a fresh perspective on Indian sport. "As a player, I only thought about my own performance. Now I understand everything that goes on behind the scenes - logistics, recovery, medical support, accommodation and making sure athletes get the best possible environment to perform. "
He believes his years on the international circuit allow him to contribute beyond table tennis. "Earlier, I contributed only to table tennis. Now I can contribute to Indian sport. "
For a player whose own career transformed Indian table tennis, Sharath Kamal's biggest legacy may now lie in helping build the pathway for the next generation. And if his confidence is anything to go by, Indian table tennis is no longer dreaming of competing with the world's best-it believes it belongs there.
