A few remember Sharath Kamal for winning seven gold medals at the Commonwealth Games, another chunk of fans remember him for his exploits at the Asian Games, while his latest addition in the fans list remember him for his three bronze medals at the Asian Championships. But truth be said, the 42-year-old Sharath is a lot more than his tangible achievements, a pioneer of sorts in Indian table tennis, to say the least.
Sharath Kamal is all set to represent India in his fourth Olympics at Paris 2024, and this time he has a bigger chance to perhaps land a medal — since the Indian men’s team has also qualified for the event. In a freewheeling interaction with InsideSport, the veteran opened up about realistic chances at Paris Olympics, his learnings from the past, his teammates, and everything table tennis.
EXCERPTS
What’s the feeling like qualifying for your fourth Olympics? How’s the preparation going?
Prep has been fantastic. I started my preparation for the Paris Olympic Games from March 5th, when we knew that we had qualified in the team event. And this is the first time we have qualified in the team. So we’ve got this lot of time to prepare. So since the Commonwealth Games got over in 2022, the primary target was to qualify in the team events for the Olympic Games. And since then, a lot of things were being worked on. But actually, the final preparation for the Olympic Games started somewhere around mid-March, where we planned how to get to my best shape possible. And now, we’re in the final stage, completely final stage here in Europe, preparing on the border of Germany and France on the same conditions that would exist at the Paris Olympic Games.
What’s your training regimen? And what’s your game plan like?
Now, currently, as I said, we are here in these conditions, different teams are here. There are nearly 35 players in the training group on the boys side. The girls have another 10-12 of them in their category as well. Different countries, and different players are here. So getting to mix and match, try out some match practices. So it’s really good at this moment.
Is there anything you’ve picked up from your previous Olympic appearances?
A lot. I’ve picked up a lot of stuff from my experience that I’ve gained over so many years. The first thing is how to handle pressure. And my ability to understand my own body and mind has become better, which is helping me peak at the right times when it’s most necessary. So I’ve been doing that well over the last six years. It has been fantastic. 2018 onwards, thanks to sports science, I’ve been able to keep myself physically very fit and mentally very sharp. And of course, there are a lot of things that have changed. I do have this data, I do have this experience, but the techniques have changed. There’s more evolution of the generations that have come by.
What are your memories of the Athens 2004 Games?
There’s nothing that went wrong there. Actually, when you look at my Olympic performances or my experiences, I think except for Rio, I’ve done exceedingly well in the other ones. But that’s also because I got this opportunity to represent the country at the highest stage. And then there was a lot of pressure. A lot of people ask me, table tennis doesn’t have medals, ‘how are you going to win those medals’? Of course, that’s a lot of pressure there. But then I’ve been able to get out my best each and every time I was on court in such big tournaments. So Athens, when I look back at those videos, actually, I don’t have the footage. But now when I look at the footage from the Olympics, I’m like, ‘I was so fast, and so thin’.
In Tokyo 2021, did you think you could beat Chinese Ma Long?
Yes, very much very much. Already in the first set, I felt like I had a chance in the match. But I let go of the first set because I felt like I didn’t believe enough. Then I took out the second set and the third set went on to a tiebreaker. When he took a timeout, he changed gears and came out. I couldn’t keep up after that. But yes, my best performance in my complete career, I would say the way the quality of table tennis that I played in that match is one of the best that has happened to me.
Will that match keep you in good stead in this Olympics as well?
The thing in the last six years is every year has been getting better and better. So I don’t know how that’s happening. And I hope in this Olympic Games, I bring out the best and at the same time, be able to come back with some stunning performance, especially in the team event.
Last year your ranking dropped to 107. Was that a planned move?
It was pretty much planned stuff. Not to dip to 107. That was not the plan. But the thing was to take a six month break after the Asian Games. So that you’re able to start afresh for Paris because I’m at an age where I just can’t keep going from tournament to tournament trying to hit my peak. It’s not possible physically and mentally. So I put all in all that I had for the Commonwealth Games for nearly six months and got all that performance at the Commonwealth Games. And then I told myself that I needed a short break. Because if I want to do well at the Asian Games and the Paris Olympic Games, I need to have the break.
What is the significance of the men’s and women’s team qualifying for the Olympics?
Actually, it’s been a long dream for me. Team Championships was introduced in 2008. I always wanted to qualify for the team. But unfortunately, we could never do it even though we were very close in Tokyo. Our world ranking was there. But unfortunately, in the qualification tournament, we lost out on the three finals, getting into the Olympic Games. Now this time around both the men and the women qualifying for the Olympic Games puts table tennis in a fantastic position, because we have set the benchmark.
Sathiyan is not part of the team. What do you tell him?
Nothing much because he’s quite a mature player and a great person also. So it’s quite easy to be around him. And already the day he knew he would not make it into the team, he would be the number four. He’s been talking to the youngsters and he has been saying, okay, this is what is going to happen. This is how it will be at the Olympic Games. You just get in there. There’s big chances that you get distracted with all the celebrations that happen around.
Do you see any difference in Indian players after coach Massimo joined?
There’s no change. We don’t need changes. We just try to keep it constant because he’s been here for the third term of his. So he came first in 2008. He was for 2016 for another two years and now for some more time. The good thing about him is his ability to keep the team together and all of us, each other getting better. So that’s his strength. That’s his forte. And that is exactly what he’s doing. And that is what is necessary for all of us at this one.
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What are your realistic expectations? Do you feel a medal could actually come?
As I said again, the team is where we have the highest probability to get a medal, especially the girls. They’ve been doing probably well. So the realistic chance, of course, we want to get into a tournament wanting to win a medal. The want, of course, the reality to expectations might differ, but at least our target has to be to get a medal. Of course, for myself, it will be the first match. It will be the first match on the team championships, which if you’re able to cross that hurdle, I think already there we are setting a milestone, a landmark from there. The quarterfinals of the Olympic Games is something which I never dreamt of. I would actually have the chance to, of course, you want to win that medal, but a realistic chance to get in there has the biggest probability now in 2024.
You’re the co-flag bearer with Sindhu. Is that the biggest moment in any sportsperson’s career?
The biggest one will be to win the medal and stand on the podium. That’s the biggest moment. But of course, this is also a moment of great pride and honor because it’s not just for myself, but also for table tennis as in large, because very few table tennis players across the world have been flag bearers. And personally for me, I think for the number of years that I’ve put into the international service, I think that’s a great way to feel the recognition coming back to me. I have run through that. The visual has run through my mind so many times since I’ve been announced as a flag bearer. I really can’t wait for the 26th of July when myself and PV Sindhu will be actually having the flag in our hands and leading the contingent at the opening ceremony.
