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In a hard-fought round of 64 game at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Indian table tennis veteran Sharath Kamal was defeated by Slovenia's Deni Kozul. The 42-year-old Kamal, making his fifth Olympic appearance, succumbed to a 2-4 loss with scores of 12-10, 9-11, 6-11, 7-11, 11-8, 10-12 in a contest that lasted 53 minutes.
Ranked 40th in the world, Kamal faced an opponent ranked 126th, 86 places below him. Despite his higher ranking, the Commonwealth Games champion could not secure a victory.
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The match started on a positive note for Kamal as he clinched the tight first game 12-10. However, Kozul quickly retaliated, winning the next three games 11-9, 11-6, and 11-7, putting Kamal at a 1-3 deficit.
Kamal showed resilience by winning the fifth game 11-8, providing a glimmer of hope for a comeback. Nevertheless, in a tense sixth game, he initially took the lead but eventually lost 10-12, marking the end of his singles campaign.
Kozul's composed performance in the decisive moments ensured his victory at the South Paris Arena. Kamal’s early lead in the sixth game was overturned by Kozul’s consistent play, sealing the match in his favor.
Sharath Kamal set to lead Indian men's table tennis team against defending champions China
With this defeat, Sharath Kamal's journey in the men's singles event concluded on a disappointing note. However, he is set to return on August 5 with the men's table tennis squad for the team event.
The Indian team will face a formidable challenge in their opening round against the People’s Republic of China, the reigning champions with four consecutive gold medals since the event's introduction in 2008. The Indian men's team's qualification for the Olympics marks a significant milestone, making their debut in the team events.
The Indian men's team will feature Sharath Kamal, Manav Thakkar and national champion Harmeet Desai. Gnanasekaran Sathiyan, who helped India win gold medals in the Commonwealth Games, will serve as a reserve player.
The women's team, meanwhile, will compete against Romania in the round of 16. Should they advance, they are likely to face Germany, the Rio 2016 silver medalists, in the next round.
