Kolkata : Indian Peddler Archana Kamath, who had a great show in Paris Olympics 2024 has stepped down from Table Tennis due to lack of financial and monetary returns & pursue studies, moving to US.
Paris Olympics 2024 saw Women’s Team creating history like, Manika Batra, Sreeja Akula reaching Round of 16 for 1st time.
In Table Tennis Team event also, India reached the Quarter Final for 1st time. Archana Kamath put up a stellar show against Germany and was lone warrior for India in that match in which they’re eventually defeated. Kamath’s selection at 1st place did raise debates as she was chosen over in form Ayhika Mukherjee, who defeated World No 1 Sui Yingsha earlier.
But Kamath didn’t disappoint at all with her performance in the Olympics. However, after all hard works, Indian Table Tennis didn’t clinch a single medal.
Post Olympics, she asked her coach Anshul Garg whether there was any possibility for winning medals in Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
Table Tennis has been dominated with likes of China, Chinese Taipei, South Korea, Japan over years, it would require lots of hard work to win a medal for India. Thus, Garg didn’t find any words. Moreover, Kamath is outside 100 rank in World ranking, thus, her medal winning chances would require lots of efforts, seeing overall performance of India in Paris Olympics. Though, she has improved a lot in recent times. However, according to Garg, she already made her mind to quit the Sports.
He said, “I told her that it’s difficult. It’s going to take a lot of hard work. She’s ranked outside the top 100 in the world but she improved so much in the past couple of months. But I think she had already made up her mind to go. And once she makes up her mind, it’s difficult to change it”.
She left her coach Garg stunned when she told him that she no longer wanted to play table tennis professionally. She saw no future in it, and it didn’t make sense for her long-term future, along with this ,it had no monetary and financial returns.
Garg also pointed out, “The top players generally don’t have any problem because they get a lot of support. But what about the upcoming players? Yes, they get support in terms of training and equipment. No expense is spared there but what about a livelihood? That gets difficult so Archana’s decision is understandable”.
Kamath rather decided to quit the game and move to US at University of Michigan to pursue Economics. She is good in academics and a hunt for Olympic medal only brought her to this game.
“My brother works at NASA. He’s my idol and he too encourages me to study. So I make the time to complete all my studies and I enjoy it. I’m good at it too,” she told in an interview earlier this year.
Archana’s father Girish said she has taken this step with no regrets as she’s given it her all.
“Archana has always been academically oriented and all along her TT career has pursued her studies with graduation in Economics and has recently completed the requirements for a Masters degree in International Relations, Strategies and Securities. Having played table tennis with so much dedication and passion for more than 15 years which culminated in her representing our country at the Olympics, she felt it’s time for her to pursue her other passion- full-time studies. She has taken this difficult step with absolutely no regrets and after having given her best for the sport and the country”, he added.
Is playing Table Tennis financially beneficial in India ?
This decision of Kamath quitting TT because of low financial returns has raised question of financial benefits for youths engaged in Table Tennis in India.
Kamalesh Mehta, TTFI Secretary said it is improving drastically.
He said, “Table tennis is getting a lot of corporate backing. The Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) has all corporate owners. Players are being supported by professional sports agencies too. There’s a lot happening and the government with TTFI is doing whatever we can to support players and create a system that makes players want to stay in the sport. The number of professional academies that have come up in the country is a testament to that. Our results on the international stage – even in youth tournaments – show that we are doing something right”.
As mentioned earlier, Kamath’s coach also pointed out the same saying, “The top players generally don’t have any problem because they get a lot of support. But what about the upcoming players? Yes, they get support in terms of training and equipment. No expense is spared there but what about a livelihood? That gets difficult so Archana’s decision is understandable”.
Indian TT coach Massimo Costantini also said that her decision didn’t surprise him and India need to create a strong system in Table Tennis to build it as a strong career.
“When I saw Archana competing, I thought, Ok, we have won another tile in our mosaic of Indian table tennis players. I was aware of her always thinking about academics. It didn’t surprise me much but I understand her decision,” says Costantini. “We need to create a stronger system to make sport a career. We have also to think about how to preserve and guarantee a brighter future for sportspersons who are giving a part of their life to play for the country.”
Archana Kamath was considered as rising stars in Indian Table Tennis, especially after her recent fast tracked improvements.
She is the youngest National Champion at age of 18, won Bronze in Asian Junior Championship (Team).
She also won golds in Double Events in Commonwealth Championship, WTT Contender Lagos, & Silver in WTT Contender, Muscat.
Her decision to quit was a heart breaking step in Indian Table Tennis forum.
