 "Sharath Kamal takes retirement after early exit from WTT Star Contender: 'I have done my part as a player'")
Chennai: Ace table tennis player Sharath Kamal’s storied career came to an emotional end after succumbing to compatriot Snehit Suravajjula in the pre-quarterfinals of the WTT Star Contender tournament here on Saturday.
Sharath showed some fight but wild card Suravajjula prevailed in three straight sets — 11-9, 11-8, 11-9.
Sharath later played an exhibition match against Egypt’s Omar Assar to give another glimpse of exceptional skills to the spectators.
“Somewhere down the line I had felt it’s enough and I wanted to explore the possibility of giving back to the sport from the other side of the court,” Sharath said in his farewell address.
The 42-year-old said he would like to chip in an administrative role.
“I have done my part as a player, I felt I had contributed enough to the country as a player, and I want to contribute as an administrator, or a coach, a mentor, or even as just a senior player,” he added.
Thakkar in semis
Earlier, the 24-year-old Manav Thakkar etched his name in history books by becoming the first Indian male player to reach a WTT Star Contender semifinal.
Manav claimed victory in successive five-game thrillers over Germany’s Andre Bertelsmeier and South Korea’s Lim Jong-hoon, an Olympic medallist, to reach the semifinals.
Manav beat Bertelsmeier 10-12, 12-10, 15-13, 6-11, 11-5 and then overcame Jong-hoon 5-11, 12-10, 3-11, 11-6, 11-1.
However, Snehit’s sensational run came to an end with a defeat against France’s Thibault Poret after his win over Sharath.
Poret won 11-4, 6-11, 11-7, 11-6.
In an electrifying showdown to close out the day, South Korea’s Lim Jong-hoon and An Jae-hyun powered their way to the men’s doubles crown, defeating top seeds Tomokazu Harimoto and Sora Matsushima — 11-4, 11-13, 11-2, 11-3.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsIn the women’s doubles final, Japan’s Miwa Harimoto and Miyuu Kihara battled past Shin Yu-bin and Ryu Hanna — 9-11, 11-9, 13-11, 12-14, 11-5.
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