"A medal for us in table tennis is possible" - Olympian Neha Aggarwal dissects India's chances at the Paris Olympics
At Paris Olympics, table tennis action is set to commence on July 27. Pundits would tell you that the Indian paddlers are by no means the favorites going into the competition. However, people who have watched Indian table tennis closely for years radiate unprecedented optimism.
The positivity is not just smoke and mirrors. It is backed by substance. Before 2024, no Indian team had ever secured an Olympic qualification. At Paris, the team event would feature both the men's as well as the women's team. This year has also seen Manika Batra and Sreeja Akula attain their career best rankings in women's singles.
But would the optimism translate into India's first ever table tennis medal at the Olympics? Sportskeeda delved deeper by picking on the brains of a former Olympian. In this exclusive conversation, former Indian table tennis star Neha Aggarwal Sharma also gave us an insight into how far has the sport come.
"We have 5 women in world top 100!" she exclaims. "When I was playing, it was unthinkable. We have two women (Sreeja Akula and Manika Batra) who are in the top 30 in the world and the sport is growing by leaps and bounds."
At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Neha Aggarwal - the name she went by in those days - was the only women from India to qualify for the quadrennial event. She feels that at Paris, India's best chance to win a medal is in the team event.
"I am saying a medal for us in table tennis is possible if we believe in it. Because in the team event, both men and women will be (starting) in the round of 16. So, you have to get through the quarters (to be in the reckoning for a medal)," she elucidates. "First two matches would be very critical and anything can happen. So, on a good day, you never know."
The women's team's opening match is against Romania. Whereas, the men's team would face a sterner assessment as they go up against China in the round of 16. Achanta Sharath Kamal, Harmeet Desai and Manav Thakker form the men's team. Desai and Kamal would also compete in the single's event.
Aggarwal is particularly hopeful about the chances of the women's team that consists of Manika Batra, Sreeja Akula and Archana Kamath. Among these, Batra and Akula would also feature in the single's competition.
"I feel the biggest chance for Indian table tennis is in the team event. And thus, Sreeja, Manika and Archana - the three women who would be going (to the Olympics) - have to play an equal part. This team is a fantastic team. We should definitely believe that we can go in for the medal," tells Aggarwal.
The 28-year-old Batra hails from the same table tennis academy as Aggarwal. Recently, she turned heads with a fantastic run in the WTT Saudi Smash, where she defeated World Rank No. 2 Wang Manyu of China as well as Germany's best female paddler Nina Mittleham.
Talking about Batra, Aggarwal said:
"I think this would be her 3rd Olympic Games. So she is an experienced one. She has beaten top 10 players in the world and she is a very good team player as well."
After the Saudi Smash tournament, Batra attained her career best ranking climbing up to the 24th spot. Though, she was soon overtaken by Sreeja Akula who has gone from strength to strength over the last couple of years.
"Sreeja has been one of the most improved players from India - (among) both men and women - in the last two years. She just became 24th in the world ranking. She has won 4 titles this year: three singles and one doubles. I think in terms of form - the best form. And in terms of confidence Sreeja is at that high."
The single's titles won by Akula this year include the WTT Feeder Corpus Christi, WTT Feeder Beirut II and WTT Contender Lagos. At the Lagos tournament she also won the double's title with Archana Kamath by her side.
Hence, there are reasons aplenty to believe. Though at the Olympics, you don't attain glory by living in the past. It is often about doing your best on a given day. The players themselves know it better than most and would want to leave no stone unturned in trying for the medal.
"Sharath being the flag bearer is a huge boost for all the table tennis players in the country" - Neha Aggarwal
At the Beijing Olympics in 2008, India was represented by two paddlers. While Neha Aggarwal was the sole female player, Achanta Sharath Kamal had qualified for the men's singles competition. At Paris Olympics, Sharath would be making his fifth Olympic appearance. He was also bestowed upon the honor of being India's flag bearer in the opening ceremony.
Speaking to All India Radio (Akashvani) last month, Aggarwal mentioned that Sharath being the flag bearer was a proud moment for the entire table tennis fraternity.
"We had never ever imagined that table tennis as a sport in the country will get such a big honor," she said. "I think Sharath being the flag bearer is such a huge boost for all the current table tennis players in the country."
Aggarwal added that it would also help put the sport in the limelight and motivate the players further to do well.
"It will also be a signal to the entire country that we can do well in table tennis. I am just so proud of Sharath to come to this stage and I hope he enjoys being the flag bearer," she said.
Being the most experienced player, Sharath would undoubtedly be a key player for the men's team. In the singles event, he would be facing Deni Kozul of Slovenia in his first match that is to be played on July 28.
The veteran has 13 Commonwealth Games medals, already to his name. At Paris, he hopes to add the much coveted Olympic medal to his tally as well.