Sathiyan's love for table tennis was evident early on. "The speed of the game fascinated me," he says. Despite his interest in science and computers, he chose table tennis as his profession while studying Information Technology at St. Joseph's College of Engineering in Chennai.

Training and Coaching

Sathiyan trains at the Raman TT High Performance Center in Chennai under coach Subramaniam Raman since 2013. His daily routine includes one and a half hours of strength training, an hour of yoga, and five hours of skill training. He added yoga during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has significantly improved his game.

Achievements and Influences

Qualifying for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo stands out as Sathiyan's most memorable sporting achievement. He also received the Arjuna Award in 2018 for Outstanding Performance in Sports and Games in India. Indian table tennis player Sharath Achanta has been the most influential person in his career, while Nigerian player Quadri Aruna is his idol.

Challenges and Changes

Sathiyan faced a shoulder strain during the final of the Indian national championships in February 2021 but still managed to compete in subsequent tournaments. He meditates and does yoga to calm his nerves before matches. His sporting philosophy is, "It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light."

Milestones and Ambitions

Sathiyan was part of the team that won India's first-ever medal in table tennis at the Asian Games, securing bronze in the men's team event in 2018. Looking ahead, he aims to win a medal at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Personal Life

Sathiyan resides in Chennai with his wife Subhiksha Baskaran. He speaks English, Hindi, and Tamil fluently. His hobbies include listening to music, spending time with friends, travelling, and watching movies.

Professional Approach

After being eliminated in the second round of the 2020 Olympics, Sathiyan adopted a more aggressive style of play. "I've only learnt lessons from it," he says. He now focuses on counter-attacking and improving his serve and receive game to reach higher rankings.

Impact of Personal Loss

The loss of his father to cancer in 2015 profoundly affected Sathiyan's approach to life and sport. "I started playing more aggressive table tennis, taking more risks," he recalls. This change helped him qualify for the 2020 Olympics.

International Experience

Sathiyan played for club teams in Poland and Japan to prepare for the 2020 Olympics. He signed with French Pro A League club Jura Morez ahead of the 2022/23 season to acclimatise to conditions for the Paris Olympics.

Professional Role

Apart from his sports career, Sathiyan works as a human resources executive for Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) in India.