Paris Olympian Archana Kamath quits Table Tennis to pursue advanced studies abroad

New Delhi: Archana Kamath, a prominent figure in Indian table tennis and a representative at the Paris 2024 Olympics, has announced her retirement from competitive play to focus on her educational pursuits.

The 24-year-old athlete has decided to further her studies abroad, marking a new chapter in her life away from the sport.

Kamath played a crucial role in the Indian women’s table tennis team’s historic journey to the quarterfinals at the Paris Olympics. This achievement was a milestone for the team, as it was the first time they advanced past the round of 16.

Despite their remarkable performance, their Olympic campaign concluded with a 3-1 loss to Germany. Kamath, who was ranked 122nd globally, secured the lone victory for India by defeating world No. 38 Shan Xiaona in the quarterfinals.

Throughout her career, Kamath has achieved several significant milestones. She claimed her first national title in 2018 and earned a notable fourth-place finish at the Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires the same year.

Her doubles successes include winning the women’s doubles titles at the WTT Contender Lasko 2021 with Manika Batra and the WTT Contender Lagos 2024 with Sreeja Akula. In 2022, Kamath reached a career-high world No. 4 ranking in women’s doubles alongside Batra.

Recently, Kamath completed her Master’s degree in International Relations, Strategies, and Securities. Her decision to pursue higher education abroad has been influenced by her brother, who works at NASA in the USA.