New Delhi: The Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) on Friday unveiled the squad set to represent the nation at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Leading the charge will be Commonwealth Games champion Sharath Kamal and star player Manika Batra, both poised to bring their wealth of experience to the international stage.
Sharath, at 41, is gearing up for his fifth and final Olympic appearance, solidifying his legacy as one of India’s most enduring sports figures. Manika, who recently achieved a career-best world ranking of No. 24 following her impressive performance at the Saudi Smash, will be participating in her third consecutive Olympics.
Notably absent from the main squad is Gnanasekaran Sathiyan, a key player in India’s gold medal-winning men’s teams at the Commonwealth Games in 2018 and 2022. Sathiyan will travel to Paris as a reserve player, ready to step in if needed. Similarly, Ayhika Mukherjee has been named as the reserve for the women’s team.
The men’s team will feature India’s top-ranked players: Sharath (world No. 40), Manav Thakkar (world No. 62), and national champion Harmeet Desai (world No. 63).
On the women’s side, alongside Manika, the team includes Sreeja Akula (world No. 41) and Archana Kamath (world No. 103).
For the first time, India will compete in the team table tennis events at the Olympics. Both men’s and women’s team events, which were added to the Olympic roster in Beijing 2008, will see Indian representation thanks to the teams’ strong performances and rankings.
In the singles categories, Sharath and Harmeet will represent India in the men’s event, while Manika and Sreeja will compete in the women’s event. These selections are based on the players' world rankings, ensuring that India fields its strongest contenders.
Adding to the excitement, former Italian table tennis player Massimo Costantini will take over as the coach of the Indian team next week. His presence at the selection announcement underscores the importance of experienced guidance as India aims for a strong performance in Paris.
Indian Table Tennis Squad for Paris 2024 Olympics
Men’s Team: Sharath Kamal, Harmeet Desai, and Manav Thakkar
Reserve Player: G Sathiyan
Men’s Singles: Sharath Kamal and Harmeet Desai
Women’s Team: Manika Batra, Sreeja Akula, and Archana Kamath
Reserve Player: Ayhika Mukherjee
Women’s Singles: Manika Batra and Sreeja Akula
With the teams set and preparations underway, India’s table tennis contingent is poised to make a significant impact at the Paris 2024 Olympics.