Indian table tennis has seen a renaissance of sorts in the 2016 calendar year. Recent prolific performances by both the Men’s and Women’s national teams saw them win the ITTF World Championship division two tournament in Malaysia. This particular clean sweep will now see India participate in the Champions division at the 2018 edition for the very first time.
Key to their success yet again was Achanta Sharath Kamal, who registered a resilient victory against world number 30 Aruna Quadri of Nigeria. This was the 33-year old’s first major tournament, after an eight-month lay-off away from the sport due to a hamstring injury.
Prior to the injury, Achanta was in scintillating form reaching a career high world ranking of 32 last year. During his victory against then world number 36, Simon Gauzy of France, he tore his hamstring from his hip muscle. The injury also forced him about of a potential semi-final match at the worlds.
Currently, plying his trade with Borussia Dusseldorf in the German Bundesliga, Achanta has successfully recuperated and is steadily climbing the rankings again. His flawless team world championship performance has seen reach a world ranking of 52.
In an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda, Achanta talks about his recuperation from injury, reasons for recent national team success, domestic plans and sponsorship routes.
Q. You were in top form at the World Championship this time around. How does it feel to secure India’s spot in the Champions Division slot in your 14th attempt?
It’s been a long time dream of mine which has come true. Ever since 2004 I have been playing the team championships for India in the second division and we have been trying to get promoted into the Champions Division. The closest we got was in 2012 when we lost in the final round to Romania by 2-3 in score. We lost the decided match and it was very close. But finally I am very happy that we made it this time
Q. Every time you defeat higher ranked opponents, it kick-starts a very strong winning run for you (Eg Asian Cup 2015), how do you think this event went for you personally?
I didn’t start the tournament very well this time. We lost to Nigeria in the group stage 0-3 and I lost my match to world no163. I was feeling quite low on confidence after this match but since then I stepped it up and from the next matches on, I told myself to be more aggressive. The aggression worked and from the second stage knock out matches, I was on a roll . From the 11 matches I played , I won 10 matches and I hit top form on the last stages of the tournament especially against Nigeria in QF and Egypt in SF.
Q. Was there any specific training the team concentrated on, during the national camp in Patiala?
Since the last couple of months I personally have been working for this tournament as I wanted to be in my best shape in this tournament, after suffering a big injury. So in the last eight months, I played only four tournaments before this and I had this tournament as the milestone for me to perform.
In January, we knew the draw and the team members started to prepare specifically for the players whom we would meet. In between the training camp in Patiala , I also went to Europe to play some matches as part of my preparation for the World Championships
Q. How severely was your game affected, during your eight month lay-off?
I tore my hamstring muscle from the hip bone in the last world championships in China in a match where I beat world no.36 then, Simon Gauzy from France and I had to forfeit the next round as i could not even walk. I had to get the muscle operated to attach it back to the hip bone and I was on a wheel chair for 6 weeks. Doctors and the Physios were quite unsure if I could play again.
I could not even stand on the right leg (injured leg). After that I could not play for five months and then i started playing again at the end of September and I needed three months more to play a decent level. So I had put myself a goal to start climbing the rankings again after world championships and I am very happy that I could achieve it.
Q. Four out of the five Men’s national team members are training abroad. Would you attribute the victory this particular fact?
Of course, I started scaling in the international level only after I started training in Europe as Europe has a good standard of players and very high level of training. That is the reason why all the players have improved so much in the world ranking too.
Q. In an interview with the ITTF, you stated that your family made a lot of sacrifices to help you get to this stage. Could you elucidate on them?
Ever since we had a child in 2011, my wife say that I was taking a toll on me to manage table tennis at this level and at the same time to take care of the family in Europe. So she said that it would be better if she would go back to India to live with her parents for six months where I could train hard and play more matches.
I had dropped down in the ranking to 90s in 2011 and i had to invest much more time and energy into table tennis to improve and my only goal at the time was, I still probably have a chance at the Olympic Games.
So we decided that until 2016 I put all my energy into table tennis to achieve all that I can achieve and fruitfully I have been doing well. Unfortunately I was injured in 2015 but otherwise I am quite happy with my improvement.
My daughter is five years old now but I have not spent even two years with her total in the last five years. My wife is managing most of it so that I can only concentrate on my sport.
Q. Last time we spoke you stated that there have hardly been any private sponsors coming forward. Do you think this particular victory will help?
No, I dont think this would also help. I guess to have private sponsors, I would be needed to be more in India which I cannot as I need to be in Europe for the sport. Managers don’t want to manage out portfolios as they don’t see anything lucrative in this. So it’s getting quite hard.
Q. If India has to succeed at the 2018 World Championship Division 1, what are the things that need to be looked into?
Success here is perspective, winning a medal could be success, but at this moment we are not at that level. I think first if we can perform to beat some teams and stay in the champions division would be a big success as we have not played against these big teams and it would be a challenge to with stand that pressure. So if we can finish within the top 16 in the champions division, that would already be a huge success for us.
Q. The Women’s team were prolific this time around, not losing a single tie. Any thoughts on their progress so far?
Fantastic performance from the women’s side and they were a complete team each one standing up when some else dint perform. Really a great job from them and I hope this will motivate them to reach bigger goals.
Q. There have been some highlight plays coming from your tenure in Germany with Borussia Dusseldorf. Did the league help you prepare for this particular event?
Ever since I moved to Borussia Dusseldorf in 2012, I have been steady scaling due to the professional training facilities and personnel around. I have played an important role in winning crucial matches for the club and that in turn has helped me to gain confidence and the ability to tackle higher standard players . and I wrote earlier, during the training camp in Patiala in February , I made a short trip to Germany to play a couple of matches so that I have match practice before the world championships.
Q. Is there a stark difference between the infrastructure in Germany and India right now?
As far as infrastructure is concerned, there is not a very big difference, of course some things are really good and some are the same as we have it in India, but the knowledge and the technical knowhow of the sport has a vast difference. They have been playing this sport at the top level for some decades now, so naturally they know how to prepare, train and execute it in matches.
Q. What do you think of your and the national table tennis team’s chances in this years Rio Olympics? Is there any specific training going on?
We stand a good chance to qualify for the Olympic Games both in team and in singles I have a very big chance with my world ranking. but once we are there, I think if O could hit my top form like World Championships or Asian Cup, I have a decent chance to make it to the last 16 or even quarterfinal.
From there it’s only a couple of rounds for a medal. you never know and I believe in being an optimist. I have been training for it since 2011 ever since my family decided to support me, so it’s been a long time and I hope I can fulfil not only my dreams but even of the people who are there for me in time of need.
Q. Finally, you earlier stated that “if you’re around till 2018, it will be historic for India.” Does this mean you’re contemplating retirement?
I didn’t mean that, there are still two years to go , many things can happen. First I need to be on the Indian team to play that tournament and I need to be in the fittest of my shape to play at that level. So there are many factors but all I say is that I would like a five-year old in a carnival, when I enter the main hall to play my first champions division tournament.
