Three gold medals and a silver in his kitty made this probably the most profitable Commonwealth Games for the evergreen desk tennis star Sharath Kamal, who at 40 is keen to step out of his consolation zone and adapt. The senior professional talks about how he made tweaks to his sport, like a stronger backhand to enrich his brow, his goals of a group medal in 2024 and why he believes a paddler from the nation will win a person medal on the Olympics inside a decade
How do you do what you do? How have you ever managed to be on the prime of your sport for thus lengthy?
That comes by way of a number of observe and understanding the method over time. I’m capable of perceive what my physique requires, what my thoughts requires, and what it takes to be in one of the best form. This isn’t just my effort. It’s a whole effort with my coaches – psychological coach, bodily coach, and nutritionist.
They inform me, at this stage, we’ll be doing this or that. These are the tournaments we’ll be taking part in. It’s a long-drawn course of the place planning and group are fairly vital points. When we keep on with the plan, the outcomes are available.
Over the years you may have performed opponents with totally different types. Table tennis has modified so much too. How have you ever managed to adapt?
Without adaptability, you do not have longevity. You have to preserve adapting to new strategies, new know-how, and new data. You have to always preserve updating your self so that you’re within the race with all your opponents. That’s one factor I’ve been capable of sustain with. Be the change within the ball from a 38mm diameter to 40mm (in 2000), a change within the rubber or change in strategies. I used to be capable of sustain with the adjustments and adapt.
Commonwealth Games (CWG) gold medalist and desk tennis participant Sharath Kamal poses for pictures upon arrival at Chennai International Airport, in Chennai. (PTI)
What had been probably the most testing points of the sport you have needed to change and adapt to?
The sport patterns have modified. The scoring has modified and that is been probably the most troublesome change. Apart from that, the service rule has modified, the dimensions of the ball has modified, the fabric of the ball has modified and the gear has modified.
Earlier the ball used to journey very quick after which the ball grew to become a bit heavy. Until 2008, we might use velocity glue on our bats (velocity glue will increase the elasticity of the racket, which provides velocity and spin to the ball). They banned it instantly after the 2008 Olympics. The season had already began and we did not have time to adapt. These could appear small adjustments, however they don’t seem to be
And you tailored to every thing with out complaining…
I discovered very early on in my profession that I’ll should adapt. My coaches helped too. They taught me to not complain about stuff and pushed me out of my consolation zone. Back then, infrastructure was very unhealthy. I discovered by no means to complain about these issues so I feel that is serving to me adapt to new issues and principally exit of my consolation zone.
How do you put together your self for every match and has something modified in all these years?
We analyze all of the matches and we sit down and discuss it. That’s how we construct a observe session. If there’s one thing we’re not doing properly we observe that and if there’s one thing we’re doing properly, we sharpen that. We are always evolving.
Viswanathan Anand not too long ago spoke about how he retains up with the youthful technology in chess. He mentioned it is not one thing that occurred in a single day and he has made small tweaks over time that helps him compete. Do you suppose that is the identical for you?
It’s much more bodily for me (laughs). If I can sustain bodily, then I can sustain technically. That’s one thing which I’ve discovered, particularly after the interval the place I saved shedding to the kids between 2011 to 2015.
The factor is that they already began off with the brand new know-how and I needed to change and adapt to the brand new and I fell behind. So in that sense, I needed to fully improve myself. There weren’t minor tweaks, there have been main issues.
Sharath Kamal Achanta of India performs a backhand return to Liam Pitchford of England within the males’s singles desk tennis gold medal match on the Commonwealth Games. (AP)
Major issues like?
Well, the backhand approach. Let’s say until 2010 I used to play solely forehand, my complete sport was once forehand based mostly. Though it’s nonetheless extra forehand based mostly, backhand is now an integral a part of my sport. It took me some time to work on the coordination between backhand and forehand.
You mentioned you saved shedding to gamers between 2011 to 2015. How did you bounce again from that? You additionally had a serious harm in 2015 which set you again by six months…
Things began to work out as a result of in these 4 years I used to be attempting to adapt. The harm additionally slowed down the method however by 2017 I used to be again on monitor.
Coming to Indian desk tennis, how far do you suppose we’re from profitable an Olympic medal?
We aren’t removed from profitable an Olympic medal nevertheless it’s not very simple both. At Paris 2024, sadly for me, I’m a group medal as a result of that’s one thing that’s potential with me Sathiyan (Gnanasekaran) and Harmeet (Desai).
What about singles for you?
Singles are very far-fetched for me. I’m not within the prime 10 of the world to consider an Olympic singles medal. Also, I’m 40 so will probably be bodily demanding. I have to sustain bodily to be one of the best within the enterprise. I do should work much more on the bodily side and a few technical points additionally have to be labored on.
But inside eight years from now, I can say that India might stand an opportunity of profitable a singles medal on the Olympics.
There’s all the time a query of who after you in males’s desk tennis. Right now it appears to be Sathiyan. Do you suppose Sathiyan or any of the present prime gamers can ever attain your stage?
Sathiyan has already reached the extent that I’m taking part in and actually, I’m catching up with him. He is doing extraordinarily properly in worldwide tournaments, elevating the bar and I’m simply attempting to maintain up with the rankings
You’ve clearly interacted with plenty of Indian gamers. Have you seen a spark in anybody?
Lots of Indian gamers have a spark. Plenty of gamers have been doing properly on the junior stage and they’re extremely ranked of their class too. They want the boldness that they are often one of the best on the earth. We all the time had good expertise within the junior class. It is simply that within the transition from junior to senior, it will get misplaced.
Sharath Kamal of India holds up his gold medal after defeating Liam Pitchford of England within the males’s singles desk tennis remaining on the Commonwealth Games (AP)
Table tennis is slowly enhancing within the nation and hopefully, within the close to future, there shall be a setup to supply new champions one after the other. It cannot be only a one-off that somebody is popping out and taking part in properly.
Manika Batra was requested to tank a match earlier than the Tokyo Olympics. What is your tackle having to tank matches to ensure that your compatriot to make the minimize for a serious multi-sport occasion?
I can’t touch upon that as a result of somebody requested her to do it and never me. Post that, there have been plenty of issues. I attempt to stay away from it and deal with the sport at hand
How would you outline your self and your profession?
I am unable to ask for something higher. At 40, I’m nonetheless peaking. I do not suppose anyone has executed that throughout any sport. I’m actually completely satisfied to be within the spot the place I’m.
What’s subsequent for you?
The important focus is the Paris Olympic Games. But we do have World Championships arising and some different tournaments. First, allow us to bask on this glory after which get again to the drafting board.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
