"Even when you play against number 20 or 30 of India, you are really in trouble" - Mihai Bobocica on the rise of Indian table tennis

Mihai Bobocica was one of the most experienced paddlers competing in the Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) 2024 season. The 37-year-old Italian star made his Olympic debut in 2008 and returned for the 2012 Games.

Still actively competing, he now has a career that has spanned over two decades. Throughout his journey, Bobocica has set the benchmark in Italian table tennis, holding the all-time record for Italian titles. One of his most impressive runs also includes reaching the last 16 at the World Championships in Durban in 2023.

In an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda, Bobocica shared his thoughts on Indian table tennis, reflecting on its growth as well as his experience playing in UTT.

Q: What are your overall thoughts on the state of Indian table tennis?

Mihai Bobocica: "I am really surprised. I mean, I see them in the international competitions, and I know there are many, but coming here, I realized that there are so many good players, and I think it's a growing country in this sport.

I've been playing for Italy for 20 years now, and in the beginning, there were not so many players. Then Sharath [Kamal] opened the way, and now they are coming more and more, and even when you play against number 20 or 30 of India, you are really in trouble, so they are doing a really good job, I think."

Q: How has your experience been playing in the Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) league in India?

Mihai Bobocica: "Yeah, it felt great, like the whole period here in India, in UTT. Even when we were not playing well, it was always a great feeling to be here because everything was set up very well and organized perfectly, and for us table tennis players, it's a real privilege to be in such a nice league because table tennis is a small sport and there are not so many professional leagues like this one."

Q: What were the emotions you went through in your crucial semifinal encounter against Alvaro Robles?

Mihai Bobocica: "It was a very important match; I knew it from the beginning because it was one of the two games in which we were underdogs. So once I won that, we really believed we could win because in the other three matches, I think we were favorites, yes.

So emotions were there, but I also thought before the game that it was possible because with Alvaro, I lost many times, but I also won last year in Durban in the World Championship, which was very, very important, so the other times also were very close matches, and with this system, just three sets, golden point, it's even smaller the margin between the players, so I knew it was possible.”

Q: How do you feel about the UTT format with 3 sets and the golden point system?

Mihai Bobocica: "So personally, to play it's hard because it's really short, but I believe it's a real good system for the TV; for the show, it's a very nice show, and as shorter we make the matches as the people like to watch it more, so I think it's a really, really good system."

Q: You bring decades of experience to the table; what advice have you given to your younger teammates at Goa Challengers?

Mihai Bobocica: Yeah, I always try to remind them that with this system we can beat everyone, that it's possible, playing point by point all the time, don't think about the score, don't think about the result, and all those kinds of things which are crucial to take away the pressure because if we put so much pressure on ourselves, it's going to be tough to play."

"So all these kinds of things, sometimes I come with some motivational talks or I put them in some videos or something, and I don't know if it helped, but we are in the final, and I think as long as it's working, I keep going as well."