Sharath Kamal Set to Retire After WTT Star Contender Chennai

Indian table tennis star Sharath Kamal announced on Wednesday that he will retire from professional table tennis after competing in the upcoming WTT Star Contender in Chennai.

One of India’s most decorated paddlers, the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games medallist has represented the country in five Olympic Games.

The 42-year-old claimed his first national title in 2003, the first of a record-breaking 10 national crowns, and won his maiden international medal at the 2004 Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships.

In 2010, the Chennai-born paddler became the first Indian table tennis player to win an ITTF Pro Tour title, triumphing at the Egypt Open by defeating Hong Kong’s Li Ching in the final.

Over the course of his illustrious career, Sharath has secured seven Commonwealth Games gold medals, along with three silver and three bronze. He has also won two bronze medals at the Asian Games and four at the Asian Table Tennis Championships.

Sharath has been honoured with the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, Padma Shri and Arjuna awards for his contribution in India’s table tennis.