India’s Olympic Star Quits Table Tennis, Prefers Studying In America
Photo: Wikipedia
India-West News Desk
NEW DELHI – Archana Kamath, a 24-year-old table tennis player, made history with India’s women’s team at the 2024 Paris Olympics, reaching the quarterfinals for the first time. Despite her success, she has decided to leave professional table tennis and pursue higher studies in the United States, inspired by her brother, who works at NASA.
Kamath said she had had a candid discussion with her coach, Anshul Garg, about her future in the sport, particularly the chances of winning a medal at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Her coach, while supportive, acknowledged the challenges ahead and said that winning a medal in LA would be difficult.
“My brother is my idol, and he always encouraged me to prioritize my education. I enjoy studying and am good at it,” Kamath told the Indian Express.
Financial concerns also played a role in her decision, as table tennis in India, despite improvements in equipment and training, still struggles to provide a sustainable livelihood for its players.
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For the most part, especially in India, there are 20 plus team management and their relatives riding along with one lone athlete, Mostly everyone except the athlete are focused on shopping in foreign locales.
September 3, 2024