The age-defying Achanta Sharath Kamal sizzled on and off the court docket whereas Manika Batra achieved one other first for Indian desk tennis regardless of the executive disaster the game needed to endure over the previous 12 months.
With three gold medals, together with a singles title after 16 years, on the Commonwealth Video games in Birmingham, the 40-year-old Sharath confirmed that age was only a quantity.
He plans to hold up his boots solely after the Paris Olympics however 2022 additionally noticed him moving into sports activities administration.
He was elected because the vice-chair of the Indian Olympic Affiliation (IOA) athletes’ fee earlier than changing into the primary Indian to be elected the joint chair of the gamers’ physique within the Worldwide Desk Tennis Federation (ITTF).
His position within the IOA could also be restricted however a seat on the chief council of the ITTF offers him authority to impact adjustments in the way in which the sport is performed.
Sharath lastly will get his due
Some mentioned it was in all probability 10 years too late however Sharath lastly bought his due from the federal government when he grew to become the primary desk tennis participant to obtain the Main Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award, India’s highest sporting honour.
Even the normally divided choice panel discovered it laborious to disagree and he was the unanimous alternative for the sporting honour.
The coveted award got here after his sensational effort within the Commonwealth Video games in Birmingham, the place he overcame sleepless nights and a battered physique to pocket three gold medals — singles, staff and blended with 24-year-old Sreeja Akula.
Manika overcomes CWG disappointment with Asia Cup bronze
Having bagged an unprecedented 4 medals within the 2018 CWG, expectations had been expectedly excessive from Manika in Birmingham. She couldn’t deal with the burden of expectations and returned dwelling empty handed.
Nevertheless, a efficiency of a lifetime was to comply with within the Asia Cup in Bangkok three months later. The Delhi-based paddler raised her sport to stun two top-10 gamers in a span of three days to safe a bronze, changing into the primary Indian to win a medal within the match’s wealthy historical past.
Authorized battles galore
The begin to the 12 months was fairly grim because the Delhi Excessive Courtroom suspended the Desk Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) after observing a “sorry” state of affairs within the governing physique.
There was worry among the many gamers over the suspension impacting their preparation for worldwide occasions, together with the Commonwealth Video games scheduled for July-August.
Nevertheless, the court-appointed Committee of Directors working the TTFI ensured the coaching of elite athletes remained largely unaffected.
A newly-elected set of workplace bearers took cost of the federation earlier this month and their first process shall be to conduct the nationwide occasions.
Whereas taking care of the day-to-day functioning of the federation, the CoA too bought locked in a number of authorized hurdles.
As many as 4 gamers — Manush Shah, Swastika Ghosh, Archana Kamath and Diya Chitale — challenged their exclusion from the CWG squad, preserving the CoA greater than busy.
Solely Chitale emerged because the winner from these battles and was included within the Birmingham-bound girls’s squad.