5 times Olympian Achanta Sharat Kamal who is a part of Sports Vidya. ” My Olympic campaign has come to an end, not quite as I had envisioned. Despite winning numerous medals at the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games over the years, the Olympic medal has remained an elusive dream.
Starting with my first campaign in Athens 2004, I was ranked 171, and the Indian men’s team was 36th in the world. Over the past 20 years, I’ve seen India rise through the ranks to 8th in the world as a team and 30th in my individual ranking. Contributing to this ascent has been a profound journey.
I have had the honour of being the face of Indian table tennis since 2002, and my career has seen me amass over 60 international medals, including 13 from the Commonwealth Games and 2 from the Asian Games. My record-breaking 10 National Championships and representation in five Olympic Games (2004, 2008, 2016, 2020, and 2024) are milestones that fill me with pride.
While the Olympic medal remains a dream unfulfilled, my journey has been filled with dedication, perseverance, and immense support from my country and its people. I look forward to the next months, knowing that the sport I love continues to thrive and inspire.

A big thank you to the Gov of India, Tamil Nadu State Gov, TTFI, UTT and my sponsors Indian Oil, Andro and Lakshya Sports Foundation.”