Mental part will play a very important role at Paris Olympics, says India table tennis coach

India are sending six athletes in table tennis to the Paris Olympics with representation in four events - men’s team, women’s team, men’s singles and women’s singles. It has already been a big achievement for the paddlers with India qualifying for the team event for only the first time in Olympic history.

There is a perfect blend of youth and experience in the squad. Veteran Achanta Sharath Kamal, 42, has been to four Olympics and will compete in his fifth, while also being the flag bearer, alongside PV Sindhu, at the opening ceremony. There is also two-time Olympian Manika Batra who has surged in the rankings and is headed to her third extravaganza.

Bringing the team a youthful feel are Archana Kamath (24), Manav Thakkar (24) and Sreeja Akula (25), all due to make their Olympics debut. Also in the midst is 30-year-old Harmeet Desai who will be competing in the Summer Games for the first time.

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Leading the lines is Indian team’s Italian coach Massimo Costantini, set for a third Olympic experience. The 66-year-old has spearheaded the team’s surge since his arrival in 2009. Under Costantini, India clinched a record eight medals, including three golds, at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and two bronze medals at the 2018 Asian Games.

But the Olympics is a different beast. The country has sent 26 athletes over nine editions and no one has come back with a medal.

This time, Costantini has high hopes. “The gap between us and the top teams is not that big. Since we will know our opponents in advance and we have the data and research about all these teams, we will have time to prepare well and tactically work on bridging that small gap,” he said in an interview with Ultimate Table Tennis.

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Speaking to Firstpost five weeks before the Games, that begin on July 26, the 1988 Olympian was pleased with the effort being put in training and camp.

“We started this training camp 10 days back and all players were present and we have had quite good work. We had fruitful training, trying to explore individual potentials or individual weaknesses, so I think we have done quite good work, we are pretty much ready now to get some tests in the next three events - in Nigeria, Tunisia and Thailand - before the final step of preparation before the Olympics,” he said.

At the WTT Contender event in Lagos, Nigeria, Sreeja won the singles title, Harmeet-Thakkar the men’s doubles and Sreeja-Archana the women’s doubles. In Tunisia, India’s best showing came in men’s doubles with Sreeja and Sathiyan G reaching the semi-finals in the mixed doubles event. In Bangkok, India’s campaign didn’t go far with the best showing coming from Sathiyan and Manush Shah to the Round of 16.

The big picture and focus remains the Olympics with teams getting changed to find the right combination when it matters.

“Initially, there were two events as tests, but then I requested the third one, because the team event in Olympics comprises also the doubles, so I need more competitions to prepare different combinations among the three or four players available,” said Costantini.

“In Nigeria we have one kind of double, in Tunisia different doubles, to me every pairing is a good opportunity to assess them, to see what works better or what is not working, so that we can prepare,” he added.

With a diverse bunch of players, mental strength will be crucial for veterans and inexperienced members alike. “Mental preparation is difficult to assess. They are all super excited for these Olympics. Maybe they need to understand better how much pressure will be there. Because the Olympics is special. The pressure is huge because every player gives everything to succeed. We have these tournaments to increase the confidence level as well as the world ranking. Improving the ranking would also allow for better seeding at the Olympics.

“24th July (when the draw gets made) is the key date to say, ‘okay, I’m there, I’m ready. I’m ready to win. I’m ready to lose.’”

Sharath Kamal and Batra will be the cornerstones of India’s table tennis performance in Paris. They will not only look to inspire the others but will carry the burden of expectations.

“Achanta is a legend, is a point of reference, not only for India, but all over the world. He is well respected for his behaviour, for his game, for his longevity. I think there is added value for the first-timers. These two (Kamal and Batra) will play an important role in making them comfortable.

“The mental part will play a very important role in order to be balanced, in order to have clarity, in order to have some sort of moderate attitude. We are in contact with some mental trainers in order to keep them very balanced. I need them very balanced, not super excited, not super depressed.

“That is the only way, like in the game. Not always to attack, but also ready to defend. Table tennis is this. It’s a game of balance, physical balance, mental balance, but always with that grit to be ready to perform well,” he said confidently.