To announce one’s retirement finally at 42 years of age and especially when you are the best ranked Indian in the world at 42, is something that very few sportspersons could only dream of, let alone achieve.
It is fitting it has happened to five-time Olympian Sharath Kamal, who is one of the nicest human beings on the professional tour. He has competed at the highest level for 23 years, faced hell a lot of challenges both on and off the table, still managed to stave off young challengers and prove that he is the best.
The multiple Commonwealth Games and double Asian Games medallist and the first Indian to win a ITTF
Pro Tour title — the 2010 Egypt Open, said he will hang up his boots after the WTT Star Contender to be held in Chennai from March 25 to 30 after playing his first International — the Asian juniors in Chennai — in 1999.
In an exhaustive interview, Sharath talks about his post-retirement plans and biggest achievements among other things.
How big a moment is this (retirement)? Has it really sunk in?
Actually, I have been waiting for this moment for a long time. Many times, I had joked that I had passed the retirement age to announce my retirement. But I think I became very, very emotional when I saw that video today (presented in the press conference on March 5). I am very excited about the next half of my career. I have contributed a lot as a player, and I feel now I can contribute equally in the next part of my career as an administrator or as a High-Performance Director.
Do you think you’ve timed your retirement in a best manner possible?
Yes, yes, pretty much yes. It is great to leave on a high. The question that can be rightly asked is: why not or why now? I am still fit and am one of the best in the country at the international level, so why now? The answer to that question is again, I feel I have done my bit as a player and now I feel I can help in building a structure and system in place to help the transition of the Indian players to the international level.
What have been the finest moments of your career?
It’s tough to define one fine moment in my long career. So, in 2006 when I won the Commonwealth Games singles gold medal for the first time. It was the first time an Indian had won a gold in table tennis. That was a very special moment at that point in time. But then in 2022, coming back after 16 years and winning three gold medals and one silver, was even better than that. It’s very tough to say which one is the best. But, personally, for me I had two really good outings. One was at the Olympic games when I played Ma Long, the Olympic champion back then. That was one of the finest matches that I ever played.
And for me the biggest thing that changed the face of Indian table tennis I would say is the Asian Games medals in 2018. When for the first time in 60 years the Indian men’s table tennis team won a medal at the Asian Games, especially beating former world champion Japan in the quarterfinals.
You said one of your biggest matches was the one against Ma Long at the Tokyo Olympics. Could you go through what went on in your mind?
Getting into the Tokyo Olympic Games, I was frustrated with the draw. My coaches told me that ‘just because you had lost earlier doesn’t mean anything. The match is going to start 0-0 and he needs to win 11 points.
So, make sure that he earns those 11 points. Don’t give any point for free’. And that was the mindset I went into. I felt very disappointed when I lost the match. As soon as I lost the match, I came to the coach and I complained. Then, when I came back to the room and saw my messages on WhatsApp
and social media. That’s when I understood the kind of impact that I had made on every Indian who had watched that match.
Any major regrets?
Of course, when you look at my career, I have won medals in all major competitions. A medal in the Olympic Games is one that I don’t have in my cupboard. And I hope I can live the dream through the younger talents.
Any post-retirement plans?
And now I feel stepping away as a player gives me more time to help and develop the sport. Putting in a structure and system into place. And with the help of the State Government and the Central Government trying to get table tennis onto the world map, trying to win an Olympic medal. I feel I can do that more in command when I step away as a player. And that is the reason why I am stepping away.
How’s your mindset going into the WTT Star Contender in Chennai? Because you have nothing more to achieve. Will there be enough motivation to do well?
Of course, I want to do well. But at the same time, it’s one last time with the fans. So, also trying to give my best in front of them. And of course, it’s a home game. Family, my school friends & college friends, everybody will be there. I want to give my best out there. And I want to go also deeper into the draw.
On the Pro Tour, which one you will rank at the best in terms of upsetting world’s top-ranked players?
Well, when you look at individual tournaments that way, let’s say even the Indian Open in 2010 and 2017, when I lost to Harimoto Tomokazu, when he was a 13-year-old kid. But then I beat a Japanese in the last 16. Then in the quarterfinals, I had beaten England’s Paul Drinkall. Before that, in the second round, I had beaten a French player. Then when you look at Singapore Smash, I came from the qualifying to the quarterfinals. I’ve have had some fantastic tournaments that way. But again, one thing that has been good is the Asia Cup was held in India. And in India, I have always played very, very well. So, be it the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the Asia Cup, or the Indian Open, or the Pro Tour tournaments or any other tournament for that matter. I’ve always done very well for India in the international tournaments on home soil. And I really hope in Chennai, I will be able to get that magic back.
Will there be a big void when you finally leave?
That’s what we thought when Sunil Gavaskar left. Sachin came. And after that, Dhoni came. But what I feel is, there is a lot of good talent in the younger generation. A lot of them are doing extremely well. So, if you look at the women’s side, Sreeja Akula and Manika Batra are doing well. And in men, there is Manav (Thakkar),
Harmeet (Desai) and Manush Shah.
So, it is not that this place will not be filled. Probably, I have stayed here for too long! Sport evolves. The younger players will take India to the next level.
What were the key changes that took place in table tennis since you started?
Somewhere along the line, a lot of things fell into place. The 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi ensured
TT received a lot of funds. From 2004, we received a lot of support from Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu. The sporting policy of TN remains the best across the country and it was formulated at that point in time. The high cash incentives from the State and Central Governments helped the sport in a big way.
How did you adapt to the changes over two decades?
The most important fact for me is that over so many years is that I have adapted to the changes. Because, only constant in life and sport is change. If I had stayed the same in technique or in my physical preparation or mental preparation, I would not have improved. I adapted to the necessary changes. And because of that adaptation, it gave me new opportunities. And those opportunities, I was able to capitalise on. I worked hard to make those changes. I came out of my comfort zone and kept working. I came out of my comfort zone and kept working.
I can say that I did it, but the fact is that people around me made me do it. All my coaches, starting from my first coaches—my father and uncle, Srinivasa Rao and Muralidhara Rao, my fitness coach, Ramji Srinivas. They made sure that I come out of my comfort zone and adapt. For example, in 2008, the equipment changed. And in 2012, one-time plastic was banned. I had to make a lot of changes in technique to keep pace with changes that kept happening through the last 20-odd years. More than that, to match the younger generation was not easy as they have no fear and are not intimidated by anyone. Against those youngsters, I had to constantly keep adapting.
Will you play in Ultimate Table Tennis?
No, I am retiring as a player. I will be part of the franchise, where I will mentor the players.
Are you ready to take up offers as the Indian team coach or its High-Performance Director?
I don’t want to be a coach because it means I am travelling as much as a player. I feel I will be able to help in policy making, making those right decisions, helping even the coaches or something like a High-Performance Director of the Indian team.
In the recent Asia Cup in Shenzhen, China, too, we didn’t do that well as no Indian could reach the knockouts..
Barely 6-8 years into the international circuit, where as a team we are doing very, very well. Until 2016, it was just me all alone going as a lone warrior everywhere. But I think over the last eight years, there has been a good amount of talent that has been doing well in the international arena. Of course, the most important fact for us to constantly perform. We have done well at the Olympic Games, especially the girls’ came up to the quarterfinals. Generally, after the Olympic Games, there is a slight slump. If you look at all the top players, there is a slight slump in their performances. With the Indian players also, I think this would be the case. I am pretty sure in the next months with the World Championships coming up in 2-3 months’ time (May 17 to 25) from now, we will be back on track.
How difficult is it to be seen on the side of the players than the administrators since you are the co-chair of the ITTF Athletes’ Commission and vice-chairperson of IOA?
As an athlete, I am thinking about myself. As an administrator, you will have to take into consideration a lot more stakeholders. Especially the business point of view, the commercial point of view and the different, let’s say the bureaucracy in these situations here. But I still feel the players’ voices have to be heard. Because at the end of the day, without the athletes there is no sport as such. So, the voices of the athletes must be heard. And the athletes also have to be educated to make them understand certain things from the administrators or organisers point of view. There has to be a balance in terms of making both the parties understand. And that is where my current role is. And I am really happy doing that part. Players, several top players felt the fines and penalties imposed by World Table Tennis were too high.
Immediately, a Task Force was formed of which I was a part. We gave certain suggestions. And most of the suggestions were implemented by WTT because the voice of athletes was heard. WTT gave exemptions to certain events. And Smashes were not more mandatory tournaments.
In terms of hospitality, the prices have been reduced. But at the same time the prize money has been increased. So, these are factors which the players are fighting for. And I have been able to help the players voice out their requests to the administration. And at the same time get the point of view of the administrators to the players. There are certain responsibilities of the players also that come along with it which they will have to fulfil. In India, the most important requirement is infrastructure. I will try and replicate a High-Performance Centre across the country and set up a system and structure and also a pathway to help younger talents go up the ladder.
There is a certain magic between CWG and Sharath…
The year 2006 was when it all started for me. Of course, 2002 was when India had their first share of medals in CWG. But for me, 2006 gave me that springboard to the international level. And people started to hear about this kid from India has been doing well. And we would like to work with him and sign him. That was when I went into Europe and got a few offers. And from there I continued my journey.
But to finish off on a high in 2022 with three gold, one silver, then talking to the Prime Minister at his residence and sharing my experience there. It was great when the PM watched our mixed doubles final.
I am really happy that I have been able to inspire a whole lot of young generation into the sport of table tennis.
Published – March 11, 2025 11:33 pm IST
