Sharath Kamal interview: ‘I leave Indian table tennis in good hands, we need a clear monitoring process to ensure we grow as a team’ | Sport-others News

Not really, not at all, really (laughing). The tournament went fictionally well, especially in terms of performance. I am still soaking at the moment. The farewell was no less than amazing. I don’t think it could have been better, did it here in Chennai in the presence of all his family and friends.

What’s next for you?

I will take a short break for the next two months; I will spend time with going on my children, family and holidays. But after that, I am setting up a high-demonstration center, which I hope will eventually become a national training center. There are many options, perhaps as a high-performance director or an administrative role in ITTF. I just need to do zero with some clarity in my head. In the next two months, I will try and work.

Do you think you are leaving Indian table tennis in good hands? What were the turns that helped increase Indian table tennis on the global stage?

Of course, it is in very good hands. The most important period was between 2016 and 2018. Earlier, I was mostly alone on the international stage. But in 2016, we first had two men and two female players representing India at the Olympics. This was an important step. Then, in 2018, our performance at the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games really changed things for Team India.

Sharat lotus in action. (File photo)

Which of some young players should India rally?

Of course, Manika Batra, Sreeja Akula, Manav Thakkar and Manush Shah are. Then, we have young talents like Ankur Bhattacharjee, Tanesha Kotcha, Sayali Wani and Prithvi Wartikar. These children are already doing good internationally. They simply need the right system and support support to infection smoothly at the senior level.

Our Indian players have now and again upset some, but what is still missing for India to challenge top countries like China and Japan?

The system and structure should be in place. Now we have resources, and support from the government and corporates is improving. But the one who matters the most is using these resources effectively and is a clear monitoring process to grow as a team.

As you infection in an administrative or mentorship role, is a major improvement that you want to apply?

I want to come together all the players. Right now, everyone is following their plans and tournaments. Masimo Costantini (National Coach) is trying to align things, and as a team I would prefer to help them strengthen Indian table tennis.

Table tennis is growing in new pockets, for example, Surat says. What else can be done to expand its grassroots development?

We need a clear passage: from the ground level to feeder levels and then high-demonstration centers. The initiative like U-15 tournament is a step in the right direction. We need more workshops, player education and structured coaching programs to create a comprehensive talent pool.

Will analytics play a big role, and can it give an edge to India?

too much. We analyze every match, track our opponents, refine their techniques, and adjust the strategy. Analytics is an essential part of modern sports and we use it to help us improve it.

TT players are necessarily well built or long-centered and not the lower centers and all of it. Was there a long loss to you?

This helped me. I had better reach and I could generate more power in my shots. Therefore, it worked against me in my favor.

You are the pillar of Indian table tennis. How do you want to be remembered?

Honestly, I don’t have to try hard. People already see me as a pioneer and pathfinder for Indian table tennis. I hope that the next generation will continue to carry boundaries and achieve even more heights.