 "Rallying for Glory: Indian table tennis team eyes elusive medal in Paris Olympics")
The 2024 Paris Olympics kicks off with its opening ceremony on the 26th of July 2024, and all of India’s top athletes in various disciplines will be competing for the ultimate prize in sport.
As India and the world tunes in to watch this grand spectacle unfold, there will undoubtedly be quite a few eyes on the Indian table tennis contingent which will be in action at the South Paris Arena from the 27th of July.
Paris Olympics 2024: **News, schedule, results, medals tally and more**
The men’s and women’s teams have qualified to compete in the Team event for the first time in Olympic history, on account of their results at the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals held in Busan earlier this year. This is a massive achievement as only 16 countries qualify for the games.
The men’s team is headlined by Padma Shri awardee Achanta Sharath Kamal (WR 40), who will be making his fifth and most likely his final Olympic appearance. The 42-year-old legend has received the honour of being one of India’s flag bearers during the event’s opening ceremony.
Following him are reigning national champion Harmeet Desai (WR 86), and former youth World No. 1 Manav Vikash Thakkar (WR 56). Sharath and Harmeet will also be competing in the Men’s singles event.
The women’s team is led by giant-killing Sreeja Akula (WR 25), who has in the last calendar year, racked up some sensational results, including a career-defining win against Chinese paddler Wang Yidi (WR 3).
Following her is stalwart Manika Batra (WR 28), who will be making her third consecutive appearance at the Games and Archana Girish Kamath (WR 123). Sreeja and Manika will also play in the women’s singles.
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The men’s team, tasked with the daunting challenge of facing top-seeded China in the Round of 16, will strive to present their finest performance and unsettle their formidable adversaries. Though they may not be favoured to advance, this encounter is a golden opportunity for a team brimming with talent to display their prowess on the grandest stage. It is a moment to inspire the Indian table tennis consciousness and to show that they belong among the elite.
The women’s team, blessed with a more favourable draw, is set to face Romania in the Round of 16. Despite Romania’s higher seeding, led by the formidable Bernadette Szocs (WR 10), the Indian team will remain undeterred. Manika Batra has previously conquered both Bernadette and Adina Diaconu (WR 63), which will instil confidence in her teammates.
With Bernadette and Elizabeta Samara (WR 43) having previously competed in the Ultimate Table Tennis League (UTT) as well, the Indian players will have keen insights into their opponents’ strategies. A victory here would propel them into the quarter-finals, where they will be up against the winner of the USA vs Germany fixture, a matchup they might well be guardedly optimistic about.
The challenges in the men’s and women’s singles events are set to be formidable, with all four Indian representatives expected to face highly-ranked opponents from the Round of 32 onwards. Among them, Sreeja stands out as the highest-seeded Indian player (16th seed in Women’s singles).
Undoubtedly, the athletes have already made remarkable progress in positioning India as a global force even before stepping into the arena. Their record-breaking representation and high expectations indicate a trajectory of continuous growth and advancement.
Read | Mental part will play a very important role at Paris Olympics, says India table tennis coach
In a recent interview, Sreeja emphasized the intense focus on improving mental fortitude amongst the contingent as part of their Olympic preparation. A key phrase she used — ‘Maximum Number of Upsets’ captures the team’s ambitions. It is more than a phrase; it is their battle cry.
In all honesty, it might well be that India may still be a step away in clinching that elusive medal. But the gap narrows with each passing day. We might not be the favourites, but we most certainly are not mere participants. The next weeks would reveal their fate — a medal, perhaps, or a step closer to the elusive glory.
The author, a National Level table tennis player, has represented the state of Maharashtra across all age groups and at the senior level. He was the Under 12 Indian national champion and participated in international tournaments at the age-group level. Additionally, he is a silver medalist at the All India University championships, representing the University of Mumbai.
He has completed a Masters in Sport Management from Loughborough University, and is currently working with the coach education team for British Rowing, the National Governing Body for rowing in England.
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