By Admin 
A. Sharath Kamal, the table tennis stalwart, admitted that India finishing the 28th Asian Table Tennis Team Championship was a bitter pill to swallow but was confident that the Gen Next will carry forward his legacy.
“Yes, they could have achieved a bit more, but this was an invaluable experience for our men’s team. Competing under such high expectations is never easy, yet they showed great spirit and potential,” Sharath, who was the Brand Ambassador of the tournament that returned to India after 16 years, told The Hindu. “Overall, Indian table tennis is moving in the right direction, and I truly believe this young group will carry the sport to greater heights in the years to come.”
Sharath was an integral member of India’s men’s team that entered the tournament having won a bronze medal in each of the last three continental championships. Even the women’s team led by Manika Batra had pulled off a bronze medal at the 2024 edition in Astana, Kazakhstan.
The men’s team – with only captain Manav Thakkar having previously represented India in a senior team championship – finished sixth after losing the quarterfinal to eventual silver medallist Hong Kong, the women’s team lost the quarterfinal against Singapore and lost both the playoffs to finish eighth.
“For the women too, Sreeja’s absence was certainly felt, but the team fought hard and gained valuable exposure that will help them grow stronger,” said Sharath, who retired from the sport in March after an illustrious career spanning over two decades.
Sreeja, the highest-ranked Indian paddler, had to pull out after hurting her shoulder in China in the lead-up to the tournament. While the men’s retained their Champions Division place, the women’s outfit will now have to compete in the qualifying division during the next edition.