Harmeet Desai, the Indian table tennis player from Surat, Gujarat, recently clinched the men’s singles title at the WTT Feeder Caracas 2024 tournament in Venezuela and also secured the mixed doubles crown alongside Krittwika Roy. Ranked 90th in the latest table tennis rankings, Harmeet’s journey from a young fan to a champion showcases his tireless dedication to the sport.
Early life and background
Born on 19th July 1993 to Rajul and Archana Desai, Harmeet grew up in a Gujarati family that helped him follow his passion for table tennis. His journey began at 6 when his father gifted him a table tennis table. Under the guidance of the legendary Peter Karlsson, a five-time World Table Tennis Champion, Harmeet worked hard on his skills through the Olympic Solidarity Programme.
This mentorship ignited his passion and set the foundation for his future successes. Later, he moved to the Petroleum Table Tennis Academy in Ajmer, Rajasthan, where he trained under Chinese coach Yin Wei, further battering his skills and techniques in the game.
Struggles with injury
Despite his early successes, Harmeet faced a lot of challenges on his path to becoming a top-tier player. The journey was filled with fierce competition and the pressure to perform consistently at the national and international levels.
There were times when injuries and fluctuating form tested his willpower. Yet, Harmeet’s determination never hesitated. His commitment to training and his love for the sport kept him motivated to overcome these hurdles, pushing him to improve and evolve continually.
Achievements and success from junior levels to multi-sport tournament
Harmeet had a good career at the junior level. His first international medal came at the World Junior Circuit Taiyuan Open, where he secured bronze in the U-15 category. This was followed by a series of impressive performances, including silver at the U-18 singles category in the Taiyuan International Junior and Cadet Open in 2009 and a gold medal at the Fajr Cup in Iran in 2012.
In 2011, he made headlines by winning bronze in the Junior Boys’ Team event at the Asian Junior Table Tennis Championships. His historic win in 2012 at the ITTF World Tour Brazil Open marked him as only the second Indian to achieve this feat. Harmeet has also contributed a lot to the Indian men’s team, helping secure gold at the Commonwealth Games and Asian Championships.
His awards include multiple medals at the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, and South Asian Games, culminating in the prestigious Arjuna Award in 2019 for his outstanding performance in table tennis.
Future in the sport
At 31, Harmeet Desai remains undeterred in his pursuit of excellence in table tennis. His eyes are set on participating in the 2028 LA Olympics, building on his experience from the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he reached the second round in the men’s singles event.
With his determination, talent, and supportive network behind him, Harmeet is balanced to continue making important contributions to the world of table tennis, inspiring a new generation of players along the way.
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