Indian professional table tennis player Achanta Sharath Kamal was born on July 12, 1982.
He surpassed the previous record holder, Kamlesh Mehta, who had won the Senior National Championship eight times, making history as India’s first player to win ten such titles.
In 2019, he received India’s fourth-highest civilian honour, the Padma Shri. As of May of 2021, he is ranked No. 32 in the world in ITTF.
In the 28th Asian cup, held in Jaipur in 2015, he defeated Joo Se Hyuk and Chuang Chih-yuan, ranked eighth and sixteen in the world, respectively.
Tokyo Olympics 2020: India’s Table-tennis Medal Hope Ends As Sharath Kamal Loses To Ma Long Of China
Sharath Kamal Achanta, India’s most seasoned and prominent table tennis player, was defeated by China’s reigning Olympic and world champion Ma Long, 1-4, in today’s third round match in Tokyo.
This effectively eliminates India as a potential medal contender in the table tennis tournament at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Sharath, 39, was competing for India in the Olympics for the fourth time.
He put up a strong fight against his dangerous opponent in the first three games, but ultimately lost 7-11, 11-8, 11-13, 4-11, and 4-11.
Sharath and Manika Batra made history by being the first Indians to go to the quarterfinals. On the other hand, G Sathiyan and Sutirtha Mukherjee were eliminated in the second round.
Sharath and Manika were seen as medal favourites in mixed doubles, and their performance would have been different if they had been dealt a more favourable hand in the draw.
‘No Regrets,’ Says Achanta Sharath Kamal After Bowing Out of his ‘Best Olympics’
After a tough match, the Indian table tennis sensation was eliminated by defending champion Ma Long in the third round of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
On Tuesday, Achanta Sharath Kamal fell to reigning champion Ma Long in the men’s singles 7-11, 11-8, 11-13, 4-11, 11-4.
The Indian table tennis star, who was competing in his fourth Olympics, was disappointed he didn’t make it any further, but he realised there were many other things to take away from Tokyo 2020.
Long has won three World Championships and one Olympic gold medal (Rio 2016) in singles, earning him the nickname “Dictator” for his overwhelming success.
Even snatching a single game away from the former World No. 1 is an impressive effort, and the Indian certainly shook his opponent by taking the second game.
And pushing him to the limit in the third. Long’s coach made him take a timeout when he had a chance to win the third game, which he did with a 12-11 lead.
Conclusion
Sharath Kamal had an 8-4 lead in the second game thanks to his attacking prowess, but Ma Long clawed his way back with a few successful returns.
When it looked like the Indian table tennis player was going to lose, she stayed calm and won the game with a series of spectacular angled forehands.
39-year-old Sharath Kamal rode the wave to an early lead in the third game, but Ma Long quickly tied it up with a series of deft strikes.
Although both players’ returns were erratic, Ma Long ultimately prevailed.
