Kanak Jha, born June 19, 2000, in Milpitas, California, is an American table tennis player who has made significant strides in the sport.
A two-time Olympian (2016 and 2020), Jha was the youngest American athlete at the 2016 Rio Olympics and the first American born in the 2000s to qualify for the Games. He has won four consecutive U.S. National Men's Singles titles from 2016 to 2019.
Internationally, Jha has secured medals at the Pan American Games, including gold in the team event in 2019, and a bronze in singles at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games.
As of 2024, he has qualified for his third consecutive Olympics in Paris. Jha's playing style is characterized as a right-handed attacker, and he currently trains in Grenzau, Germany, to compete at the highest international standards.
Kanak Jha’s Olympic Medals Wins
As of 2024, Kanak Jha has not won any Olympic medals. He has participated in two Olympic Games:
2016 Rio Olympics: Competed in men's singles and team events
2020 Tokyo Olympics: Finished 33rd in singles and 9th in team event
He was the youngest American athlete at the 2016 Olympics and the first American born in the 2000s to qualify for the Games.
Kanak Jha’s Medals Breakdown
Youth Olympic Games
2018 Buenos Aires: Bronze medal in singles
Pan American Games
2019 Lima:
Gold medal in a team event
Bronze medal in singles
Bronze medal in mixed doubles
World Championships
Jha's best finish at the World Championships was 5th place in men's singles in 2021 (Source: Team USA). While not resulting in medals, his performance indicates his competitiveness at the global level.
Pan American Championships
| Year | Event | Medal |
| 2018 | Mixed Doubles | Silver |
| 2018 | Men's Team | Silver |
| 2018 | Men's Singles | Gold |
ITTF Junior Circuit
| Year | Tournament | Medal |
| 2017 | ITTF Junior Circuit Finals | Gold (Boys) |
| 2017 | Croatia Junior Open | Gold (Singles) |
| 2017 | Argentina Junior Open | Gold (Singles) |
| 2018 | Pan American Junior Championships | Gold (Singles, Doubles, Team) |
| 2018 | Pan American Junior Championships | Silver (Mixed Doubles) |
Kanak Jha Olympic Appearances
Jha has represented the United States in two Olympic Games:
2016 Rio Olympics
Men's Singles: 65th place
Men's Team: 9th place
2020 Tokyo Olympics
Men's Singles: 33rd place
Men's Team: 9th place
Kanak Jha Record & Achievements
Youngest ever participant in the World Cup (2014)
First American born in the 2000s to qualify for the Olympics
Youngest American Olympian at the 2016 Rio Games
U.S. National Men's Singles Champion (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)
Reached world junior No. 1 ranking
Kanak Jha Olympic Journey
Jha qualified for his first Olympics at just 16, becoming the youngest American table tennis player to do so. His preparation for the Olympics has involved training internationally, primarily in Sweden and Germany.
For the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Jha trained at the 888 Table Tennis Center in the United States, where he is an ambassador. Despite not medaling, his performance showed improvement from his 2016 debut.
After high school, he chose to continue his professional training in Germany while taking online courses.
As of 2024, Jha has qualified for the Paris Olympics, marking his third consecutive Olympic appearance.
FAQ's On Kanak Jha’s Medals
A. In December 2022, Kanak Jha received a one-year ban from official competitions due to missing three consecutive drug tests. This incident temporarily halted his career.
A. No, Kanak Jha is not from India. He was born and raised in the United States and holds American citizenship. However, his parents are of Indian origin, with his mother from Mumbai and his father from Allahabad and Kolkata.
A. Yes, Kanak Jha is still actively playing table tennis. After serving his ban, he has successfully returned to competition. As of 2024, he has qualified for the Paris Olympics through the ITTF Americas Olympic Qualification Event in Lima, Peru, marking his comeback to the top level of the sport.
