Five-time Olympian and India’s one of the most decorated table tennis player, Achanta Sharath Kamal, has announced his retirement from the sport. The upcoming WTT Star Contender in Chennai will mark the end of his illustrious career, making it his final appearance in India colours.
At 42, Sharath Kamal leaves behind a legacy as a 10-time national champion and the country’s top-ranked men’s singles player, currently placed 42nd in the WTT rankings.
Reflecting on his career, Sharath said during a press conference in Chennai, “I played my first international tournament here, and now I’ll be playing my last international match in the same city. While I’ve earned Commonwealth Games and Asian Games medals, the Olympic medal remains a dream. I hope the next generation of players can achieve it.”
In a career spanning over two decades, Sharath has won 13 Commonwealth Games medals, including seven golds, two Asian Games bronze medals, and two ITTF Pro Tour titles. He made five Olympic appearances, cementing his status as one of India’s greatest sporting figures.
Sharath’s career took off in 2003 when he claimed his first national title, and his international breakthrough came in 2004 when he won his first medal at the Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships. The same year, he earned a spot at the 2004 Athens Olympics, marking the beginning of his Olympic journey.
The Arjuna Award was bestowed on him in 2004, followed by a historic singles gold medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. His success continued with multiple golds at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, including victories in the men’s team and men’s doubles events. He became the first Indian to win an ITTF Pro Tour title that same year, with a victory at the Egypt Open.
After a brief slump in form, Sharath made a remarkable comeback in 2018, winning medals in every event at the Commonwealth Games and securing two bronze medals at the Asian Games. In 2019, he achieved a career-best world ranking of No. 30 and clinched his record ninth national title. A year later, at the age of 37, he claimed his second international title at the Oman Open, a decade after his first.
Sharath’s performance at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics saw him reach the round of 32, where he faced Chinese legend Ma Long, the eventual gold medalist. Despite the loss, Sharath continued to demonstrate his prowess, winning bronze at the 2021 Asian Table Tennis Championships.
In 2022, Sharath added another chapter to his legendary career by winning his 10th national title and securing multiple golds at the Commonwealth Games. His exceptional achievements earned him India’s highest sporting honour, the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award.
Sharath was also an integral part of India’s table tennis squad at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, where he played a key role in helping India secure a team quota for the Paris 2024 Olympics, a first for the country in table tennis.
At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Sharath had the honour of being India’s flag bearer during the opening ceremony alongside badminton star PV Sindhu, becoming the first Indian table tennis player to receive such recognition.
Although his run in the men’s singles event ended in the opening round at Paris 2024, Sharath Kamal’s legacy will forever inspire future generations. His contributions to Indian table tennis have set a standard of excellence that few will match.
(With IANS inputs)
