HIGHLIGHTS

• Sharath Kamal lost to China’s Ma Long in the men’s singles table tennis round 3 on Tuesday
• Sharath Kamal’s defeat brought an end to India’s challenge in table tennis at Tokyo 2020
• I played the best game possible and this has been my best Olympic Games: Sharath Kamal

Indian table tennis veteran Achantha Sharath Kamal was dejected after his defeat against China’s Ma Long on Tuesday at the Tokyo Olympics. Sharath’s defeat marks the end of the Indian challenge in table tennis in Tokyo.

Sharath Kamal lost 7-11, 11-8, 11-13, 4-11, 4-11 against the reigning Olympic and world champion to crash out of the Games yet again without a medal in his fourth attempt.

“I played the best game possible and that has been my best Olympic Games, simple because of the way I played. The only thing I would like to change here is the draw.

“If I had anybody else in this situation (other than Ma) and I had a real good shot at reaching the quarterfinals,” the world number 32 told PTI.

TOKYO 2020: Full Coverage | Day 4 Highlights

Sharath Kamal went on to add that the result would have different if he had grabbed his chances in the third game.

The kind of pressure I was able to put him in, I almost had him. I have not yet broken down the game tactically yet but it was more about putting the pressure on Ma (who played the first match of the competition).

“I was just unfortunate the I could not convert that third game, otherwise it would have been a very different match,” he said referring to game he lost 11-13 after winning the second with a rocket-like crosscourt forehand.

The 39-year-old, who first represented India at the 2004 Athens Olympics, was however, happy with his Tokyo show in what could possibly be his final Olympics even though he could not bow out on a high for Team India.

“Best tournament ever because the way I was able to play besides my mental and physical shape, all of it combined makes it the best tournament ever for me. Really happy that I am able to play like this despite being on the wrong side of the age,” he said.

Sharath Kamal meanwhile, didn’t rule out another shot at the Games in Paris in 2024, but he said that he will assess his future plans after going back home.

“My whastapp is full of messages telling me to carry on till Paris. The only person who wouldn’t want that is my wife (he says with a laugh). This performance has definitely given me a push to be there at Paris.

“I will go back home and reassess my plans with the CWG and Asian Games scheduled next year. I need a short break now and then I will think about everything else,” the Chennai resident said.