NEW DELHI: Sharath Kamal, a seasoned player, and Manika Batra, a top female athlete, have been selected to represent India at the 27th Asian Table Tennis Championships in Astana from October 7 to 13. Sharath, who recently competed in his fifth and final Olympics at the age of 42, will lead the men's team, which also includes Manav Thakkar, Harmeet Desai, G Sathiyan, and Manush Shah.
The women's team will be captained by Manika and will also feature Sreeja Akula, Ayhika Mukherjee, Diya Chital, and Sutirtha Mukherjee. According to the TTFI, "The selection process was rigorous, with the TTFI giving precedence to the world ranking, international experience, and performance at the national level as key criteria for the final squad."
Since his return to India in June, foreign expert Massimo Constantini has been guiding the Indian team, working to refine the players' techniques and tactics. Constantini expressed his optimism, saying, "I am hopeful they will put their best foot forward in the Asthana championships."
The Indian team, particularly the women, performed well at the Paris Olympics, reaching the quarterfinals, while the men's team was defeated by the formidable China in the round of 16. It marked the first time India qualified for team events at the Olympics.
The Asian Championships serve as a vital qualifying event for the World Table Tennis Championships and the Asian Games, making them highly significant for the Indian team.
India table tennis squad:Men's Team: A. Sharath Kamal (captain), Manav Thakkar, Harmeet Desai, G. Sathiyan, Manush Shah; Reserve Players: SFR Snehit and Jeet Chandra.
Women's Team: Sreeja Akula, Manika Batra (captain), Ayhika Mukherjee, Diya Chitale, Sutirtha Mukherjee; Reserve Players: Yashaswini Ghorpade and Poymantee Baisya.
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