India’s 6-member TT team all set to turn the tide at Paris Olympics: UTT Chairman | Olympic Games

Commonwealth Games champion Sharath Kamal and Manika Batra will lead the six-member Indian table tennis team at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The former, 41, is all set to make his fifth and final appearance at the Games and will have world number 62 Manav Thakkar and national champion Harmeet Desai in the men’s team. On the other hand, Manika, in her third consecutive Olympics, who rose to a career-best ranking of 24 in May this year after a historic run at Saudi Smash, will form the women’s team alongside 41st-ranked Sreeja Akula and world number 103 Archana Kamath.

However, the most exciting thing about the Indian table tennis contingent is their first qualification for the team table tennis event at the Games, in both the men’s and women’s categories, since its introduction in 2008.

Sports entrepreneur Vita Dani, chairman of Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT), spoke to Hindustan Times about India’s chances at the Paris Olympics, improved shows by women paddlers with Manika and Sreeja securing some crucial victories in the run-up to the Games, and the role of UTT in India aiming to set a benchmark in Paris. She also spoke about the upcoming UTT season, from August 22 to September 7. Here are fragments…

Q) What are your expectations for the 2024 UTT season?

I have always believed that we are Indian first and then everything. And for me the expectation is that our paddlers should give their best in the Olympics and if they do well, then we have won everything. And with all the efforts that we have put in over the years, the game of table tennis will be more than fulfilled. So that is the primary expectation.

Q) This will be the fifth season of UTT. What is your biggest learning moment and/or challenge that you have overcome?

I always feel that in every game, every year, every season, we are in a certain learning process and trying to capitalize on the new that we create. Because today’s world is all about creating content, about creating that buzz among young people, I am already looking forward to this season. I am sure that, like every year, you will only get encouraging numbers in terms of television and digital media.

Q Was the decision to expand the number of teams a decision that was only taken in 2024, or was it a long-term preparation?

I think if your product is exciting, more people will want to get involved in the game, and that will make the game more popular. And that’s exactly what happened with table tennis. Our paddlers have done well worldwide, which has created a lot of excitement. Fortunately, I want to believe that UTT has had a good impact, which has created a lot of excitement, and that’s why a lot more people want to get involved. So I think I want to thank all my franchise owners for their confidence in UTT. We’re always happy to have more partners on board. We’re always happy to get more people involved. I’m happy that we were able to bring two more teams on board this year, and of course there’s a lot more excitement to come for us

Q) India has made more progress in the women’s division in recent years, with as many as five players in the top 100. How big a role has UTT played in that?

I think UTT has created a platform, and it has given them more exposure and everything has given them more confidence. That is why there are players like Manika Batra and Sreeja Akula who have really achieved something extraordinary. It is not easy to beat China’s number one, number two and number three. And I know we have been in the news worldwide, and I think our Indian women paddlers have done exceptionally well, and I am sure they will continue to do so. Of course, we do not underestimate the ability of the male paddlers either.

Q) Table tennis has always been an individual sport. How has the prospect of playing in a team served Indian table tennis?

Although it is an individual sport like badminton, we do have teams; even we have made it to doubles. And it is the first time that India has qualified for the Olympics in all categories. I think it is great and really encouraging for the sport that we have been able to represent in every possible category at the Olympics. So I would not say that it is just an individual sport, but like other racquet sports like badminton, we have been able to have representation in other categories as well. That in itself is exciting and encouraging for our paddlers. And of course, it has set a new benchmark now that we have qualified in every category.

Q) The UTT website states the vision: “An Olympic medal for India in table tennis in 2024.” How confident are you that this will happen later this summer?

The ultimate dream of every athlete is to win an Olympic medal. And I am sure that our paddlers will do their best. I hope that we can create a new benchmark for table tennis, create more excitement and encourage many more young people, many more people, to play table tennis. So it is not a few months of practice, it is not a few months of hard work, it is four years of hard work, as you know, and every Olympic cycle. So let us hope for the best. But I don’t think we should put pressure on them.