New Delhi: After playing a crucial role in securing Commonwealth Games gold medals for India in 2018 and 2022, star paddler Harmeet Desai is brimming with confidence about the Indian team’s prospects at the Paris Olympics. Desai firmly believes that the Indian squad has the potential to upset any opponent, emphasizing that their preparation is on track to achieve peak performance in the French capital.
Earlier this year, the Indian table tennis contingent made history by qualifying both the men’s and women’s teams for the Olympics for the first time. Preparatory camps, held in Bengaluru from June 7-16 and in Saarbrucken, Germany earlier this month, have focused on perfecting team combinations for the Paris Olympics, scheduled from July 26 to August 11.
“On a given day, I think we really have a very good chance of beating any team. We have won against top teams in the world in the past and it is possible this time also if we give our best. In the Olympics, if all three of us can put on the best show then anything is possible,” the 31-year-old said during an interview with Ultimate Table Tennis.
Desai joins forces with Achanta Sharath Kamal, Manav Thakkar, and Sathiyan Gnanasekaran as part of the formidable Indian men’s table tennis team. In addition to team events, Desai will also compete in the individual events.
His confidence is well-founded, as the Indian men’s team achieved a stunning victory over powerhouse Japan in the quarter-finals to secure a bronze medal at the 2018 Asian Games.
Reflecting on the rise of Indian table tennis on the global stage, Desai credited the central government’s various initiatives and the launch of Ultimate Table Tennis in 2017 for significantly advancing the sport’s development.
“UTT has helped us get more experience and exposure to play with international players and get guidance from foreign coaches. That was not the case before 2017. So, this kind of experience has helped the players get more self-belief and perform well in the international arena,” he said.
The Indian men’s team is set for a thrilling opening round against China, while the women’s team will kick off their campaign against Romania. The individual events will take place from July 27 to August 4, followed by the team events from August 5 to 10.
After the Paris Olympics, India’s representatives at the Games and upcoming talent from the country will rub shoulders against each other and some international stars in the IndianOil Ultimate Table Tennis 2024, scheduled to take place in Chennai from August 22 to September 7.
