Olympics 2024: 'Paris Games My Last, But...' - Ace Paddler Achanta Sharath Kamal on Retirement Talks

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Table Tennis legend Achanta Sharath Kamal gave an update on his playing future after the Indian men's paddlers challenge ended at the Paris Olympics 2024 on Tuesday (August 6).

The Indian men's table tennis team's campaign came to an end as the trio of Sharath Kamal, Harmeet Desai and Manav Thakkar lost to China 0-3 in their round of 16 match.

Following his side's loss to China in the men's team competition at the Paris Olympics, the veteran paddler Sharath Kamal announced that it was his last Olympics match for the country.

"Sharath Kamal writes his final Olympic chapter! Hear it out on what's next for the veteran paddler!," said a post from Olympic Khel on social media.

"My last Olympic Games match here. I am really happy with the way I could finish my Olympic campaign here. Achanta Kamal and table tennis, there is a clear legacy that is behind so I really like how it is," Kamal said in the video posted on Olympic Khel's Instagram page.

While he confirmed he will not play in the Olympics in future, Sharath Kamal said his retirement is still far away and he will still be active in the table tennis circuit for his nation and in other tournaments.

"Still have some more years of table tennis in me. I am not going to quit directly here. So, the transition is going to be tough, but I think we are all well prepared for that," he added.

Kamal had competed in the Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Olympics but faced second-round exits in singles competition. In Rio 2016 Olympics, he made a first-round exit as well.

His best performance came in the Tokyo Olympics, where he reached the third round and lost to the Chinese legend and eventual gold medallist Ma Long. In Paris 2024, also the veteran exited the singles competition in the first round.

The 42-year-old has won a lot of medals at Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. He has 13 CWG medals, including seven gold, with two singles top prizes. At the Asian Games, the veteran has won two bronze medals in the men's team and mixed doubles competition.