City paddler Sharath calls time on glittering two-decade career

Chennai: A storied journey that started way back in the last millennium in a nondescript hall here will come to an end later this month. City boy Sharath Kamal — one of India’s greatest paddlers of all time and one who made his international debut in the Asian juniors in Chennai two decades ago — will play his last event in the WTT Star Contender at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium. “The journey started in Chennai in a small hall, with nothing but a racquet and a dream. I never imagined it would take me to places I had only dreamed of,” an emotional Sharath, 42, said on Wednesday.

Apart from winning medals at the national level, Sharath put India’s name on the world table tennis map by clinching 13 Commonwealth Games medals, two Asian Games medals and two ITTF Pro titles. The veteran has come a long way since learning the ropes from his father Shrinivasa Rao and uncle Muralidhara Rao, who were pillars of support throughout his career.

“When I grew up in Chennai, I always saw state and national champions. I always dreamed of becoming an international champion,” Sharath told TOI. “My coaches kept telling me: ‘We have produced state and national champions, but we want you to win medals at the international level. That is our goal with you. And you do have the talent for it’. Back then I did not believe it, but now I understand that they saw something in me,” said Sharath, who went on to live up to his billing.

Sharath will continue his association with the sport, trying to unearth more talented players for the future.