Achanta Sharath Kamal, born on July 12, 1982, in Chennai, is an Indian table tennis player. Kamal holds many records. He is the first Indian TT player to become a ten-time senior national champion. In 2019, he received the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian award.
Sharath Kamal was honored with the Khel Ratna Award, India’s highest sporting honor, in 2022. Sharath will participate in the Paris 2024 Olympics, marking India’s debut in team table tennis events at the Olympics. It will be the fifth and final Olympic appearance for the 41-year-old Sharath Kamal, who made his Games debut back in 2004.
Sharath Kamal
Age: 41
DOB: July 12, 1982
Sport: Table Tennis
Spouse: Sripoorni SK
MEDAL RECORDS
| Tournament |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olympics | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Asian Championships | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Commonwealth Games | 7 | 3 | 3 |
| Asian Games | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Early Life
Sharath first held a table tennis racket at the tender age of four. Table tennis was in the family genes as both shart ‘s father and his uncle were state-level players and also national coaches .His father, A. Srinivasa Rao, and his uncle, Murlidhar Rao, played crucial roles in helping him develop his technical skills in the game, Apart from the technicalities of the game, Sharath’s family also helped him to control his mental attitude. Initially, Kamal faced anger-management issues after a defeat.
Paris Olympics News
Major Achievements
Known as a Commonwealth Games specialist, Sharath Kamal has a total of seven Commonwealth golds, along with two Asian Games medals. He also has four Olympic Games appearances and is a three-time bronze medalist at the World Championships as well. Kamal is one of the most experienced and arguably the best Indian table tennis players in history.
Awards and Recognitions
- 2004: Arjun Award
- 2019: Padma Shri
- 2022: Khel Ratna Award
Road to Paris Olympics
Qualifying Events
All six players,Sharath Kamal, Harmeet Desai, and Manav Thakkar (men’s category), and Manika Batra, Sreeja Akula, and Archana Kamath (women’s category) were selected based on world rankings. Sharath, whose current ranking is 37, got the automatic qualification to take part in this mega event.
Sharath Kamal Pictures
Training & Preparation
The seven-time Commonwealth Games gold medalist has been pushing his limits in the gym. He is sweating it out as he engages in a series of exercises to claim his first Olympic gold medal. From intense skipping sessions to lifting weights and performing various stability, core, and plyometric drills, the Indian table tennis player is not leaving any stone unturned.
Apart from those, the 41-year-old has also taken part in the Stupa Sports Analytics camp, which organized a performance analytics camp in association with the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI). The camp, held from June 7 to 16, was aimed at preparing the Indian table tennis team for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Stupa’s analytical expertise played a key role in helping the team formulate strategies for playing against the world’s best players.
Events at Paris Olympics
| Date | Rounds | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| July 27 | Men’s Singles (Preliminary Round) | South Paris Arena 4 |
| July 27 | Men’s Singles (Last 64) | South Paris Arena 4 |
| July 29 | Men’s Singles (Last 32) | South Paris Arena 4 |
| Aug 1 | Men’s Singles (Quarterfina) | South Paris Arena 4 |
| Aug 2 | Men’s Singles (Semi Finals) | South Paris Arena 4 |
| Aug 4 | Men’s Singles (Bronze Medal Match) | South Paris Arena 4 |
| Aug 4 | Men’s Singles (Gold Medal Match) | South Paris Arena 4 |
Quotes and Interviews
Future Prospects
At the age of 41, the Paris 2024 Olympics might be the last shot for this veteran. But Achanta Sharath Kamal is ready to hang up his boots after one final attempt at winning an Olympic medal in Paris. “As a player, it will be more or less over,” he said at one event.
A 25-year career might see its conclusion after putting India on the world table tennis map, which is nothing short of commendable, considering the amount of accolades he has achieved over the years.
