Sharath Kamal
Widely considered to be one of India's greatest-ever table tennis players, Sharath Kamal, has won seven Commonwealth Games' gold medals, two Asian Games' medals, and has appeared in four Olympic Games. Honoured with both the Padma Shri and Khel Ratna awards, Kamal is a righthanded, shake-hand grip player known for his all-round game and extensive experience.
You are, no doubt, the most decorated Indian table tennis player in history. After 10 national titles, what keeps you going?
I think the goals that I have constantly keep evolving. I'm always pushing myself to achieve the next goal. Until 2016, I wanted to do well at the Olympic Games. And then, I didn't know what I would do; I thought that probably the Rio Olympics would be my last but then I could clearly see that I still had a lot of fuel left in the tank. I was able to push myself and so, I started aiming for the 2018 Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.
During the latter, we won two bronze medals - the first time in 60 years of Asian Games' history. This, I think, changed not only the entire purpose of my life but also that of Indian table tennis; in that tournament, we won eight medals for the country. From there, the next goal was the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Every one or two years, I keep pushing myself to define what I want to achieve for a particular timeframe. And that helps me have those short-term goals and at the same time, achieve what I had dreamt of. There's one medal that has evaded me throughout my entire career, and that's the Olympic medal. I hope Paris 2024 will be it.
You've managed to stay physically fit at the age of 41. Is there anything different about your workout routine?
Denne historien er fra September 2023-utgaven av Man's World.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra September 2023-utgaven av Man's World.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Most Expensive Made-In-India Cars
From Mercedes limousines to variants of the flagship Land Rover, a surprising number of luxury flagship models are now locally assembled or produced in India
Making Noise In Quiet
Manik Handa of Eudaemon explains what it truly takes to define quiet luxury in India’s crowded retail market
Luggage Travails of a Frequent Flyer
Luxury and semi-luxury luggage are the new fashion frontier amongst the Indian jet set. Our writer though recommends extreme caution, unless you are the kind who can afford to fly in private jets
Ruling The Street
Either through imitation or rejection, streetwear continues to dominate the wardrobe of young India. We talk to those who follow the scene closely to understand its rise in status
Street Cred
Royal Enfield’s Guerrilla 450 is a thoroughly fun and exciting motorcycle—it is not that the Himalayan has just tidied up for a visit to the city
Now Serving.Indigenous India
India's culinary scene is buzzing with a quiet revolution, fueled by a vibrant comeback of hyperlocal ingredients. This movement isn't just about digging up fresh, local produce from across the nation—it's about rediscovering the deep, rich tapestry of India's diverse culinary heritage
CHAITANYA AKKINENI OF OLD LOVES AND NEW
The Akkineni-Daggubati family scion is starting a new phase, and life is looking more exciting than ever
Independence Movement
As we step into India's 77th year of Independence, we're shining the spotlight on four stunning timepieces, all designed from within the nation's borders
Precision in Motion
How Alain Zobrist and Omega Time the Olympics
The New Frontier
While India witnesses a massive growth in the number of global skincare brands entering the market, an increasing number of homegrown brands takeover the space and trust among consumers
