Veteran Achanta Sharath Kamal might turn to sports administration

Veteran Indian paddler Achanta Sharath Kamal might turn towards Sports administration but the paddler is yet to figure out his roadmap for his future.

After his final Olympic appearance at the 2024 Paris Games, the veteran table tennis player wants to stay connected to the sport and administration seems a viable option for him.

"Still haven't decided clearly what will be my roadmap ahead. But, I'll sit down and have a talk with the federation and decide with my family as well about what exactly has to be done ahead," Kamal told PTI on the sidelines of the Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) launch.

"But, I'll be staying around with the game and probably taking up positions in the federation or the SAI and trying to help the sport," he added.

The 42-year-old paddler from Tamil Nadu has been the flag bearer of Indian table tennis for more than two decades now.

While he suffered a shocking opening-round exit in the men's singles at the Paris Games, he has no regrets from his final appearance at the quadrennial event.

"The only difference was the mindset since I knew it was going to be my last Olympics. I put in everything that I had in Paris. Preparation-wise, I did everything possible, and there are no regrets. Overall, happy with the way I played," Sharath said.

The 42-year-old advised aspiring players to pursue any sport as a hobby first before taking it up competitively.

"My advice to them would be to play sports first by picking up any sport. Let it not be so competitive, but at least, get in there and play it as a hobby, and sooner or later, you will figure out if you are good at it or not," he concluded.