Evolution of Table Tennis
Table Tennis was once played by the upper class as an after-dinner parlour game. A mere parlour game has seen a remarkable transformation over the years. Today, Table Tennis is recognized as a well-established sport and is played internationally.
The sport has been included in the biggest sporting competitions like the Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, etc.
Indian Table Tennis has also seen tremendous growth in recent years. It was introduced to India during the British colonial period. The game quickly gained popularity in urban areas, with clubs and associations forming to promote the sport.
This led to the establishment of the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) in 1926. This federation laid the groundwork for organised competition and talent development.
Stars of Indian Table Tennis
India is a country that is filled with hidden talents across all sports. Though Table Tennis is one of those sports that was not much recognized in the early days, it has produced some world-class players since as early as the 1960s. Let’s have a look at some such players that have made the nation proud on the international stage.
Vilas Menon
Born during the British rule, Vilas’s journey into table tennis began in the city of dreams, Mumbai. He developed an early interest in table tennis. During the 50s and the 60s, he dominated the sport in India and represented the country at various international tournaments.
Vilas won many national championships and gave a good fight at the international level. He had set an example for the youth in the country who wanted to pursue table tennis.
Neha Aggarwal
Neha was born on 11th January 1990. Her journey into the world of table tennis began at a young age. Neha’s career took off after she won the Junior National Table Tennis Championship. She was the only woman who represented India in table tennis at the 2008 Olympic Games.
Though she did not win a medal, it proved to be an inspiration to the youth of the country. Apart from the Olympics she also represented the nation at the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Table Tennis Championships. Her playing style is characterised by her agility, quick reflexes, and strategic gameplay.
Ankita Das
Ankita has emerged as one of the prominent figures in Indian Table Tennis. She was born on 17th July 1993 in West Bengal. Her rise in the table tennis world has been marked by her impressive performances and numerous achievements.
She won the 75th Senior National Table Tennis Championship in 2014 in the singles event. At the age of 19, she became the youngest Indian girl to qualify for the 2012 Olympics.
Ankita was the runner-up in the 2006 WJC China Cadet Girls singles event, she won the gold medal at the 2007 WJC Canada Cadet Girls singles event and won the gold medal at the 2007 Cape Town, South Africa Cadet Girls, Asian Team event.
Sathiyan Gnanasekaran
Sathiyan was born on 8th January 1993 in Tamil Nadu. He has emerged as one of the brightest stars in Indian Table Tennis, bringing a new level of excellence and recognition to the sport. Sathiyan quickly made a name for himself in the national circuit, winning multiple national championships.
Sathiyan won one medal (bronze) at the Asian Games, six medals (2 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze) at the Commonwealth Games, three medals (3 bronze) at the Asian Championships, and four medals (2 gold, 2 silver) at the South Asian Games.
He has made India proud on the international stage. His contribution and achievements in the sport have been honoured by the Arjuna Award in 2018. He represented India at the 2020 Olympic Games.
Mouma Das
Mouma was born on 24th February 1984 in West Bengal. Her tryst with Table Tennis began at a young age. She has made a significant contribution to the growth of the game in the nation.
Mouma made her debut at the 1997 World Championships where she reached the third round. Since then, she has represented India a record seventeen times at the Championship. Mouma made India proud on several occasions on the international stage.
She became the first Indian female table tennis player to win two medals at the Commonwealth Championship.
She also holds the record of winning the most number of gold medals (eight) by a table tennis player in the South Asian Games. She was honoured with the Arjuna Award in 2013 and the Padma Shri in 2021.
Manika Batra
Manika was born on 15th June 1995 in Delhi. She discovered her passion for Table Tennis and started playing the sport at the early age of 4. Manika dropped out of college, declined a scholarship to train in Sweden, and also turned down modelling offers to completely focus on the sport that she loves.
She became the first Indian woman to rank in the World Top 25 Table Tennis Singles Player. On the international stage, she made her debut in the Chile Open at the age of 16 where she won a silver medal. She has won four medals (2 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze) at the Commonwealth Games.
Manika became the first Indian Women’s player to win a gold medal in the tournament. Along with Sharath Kamal, she won a bronze medal at the Asian Games. Manika and Sathiyan became the first Indian pair to win a mixed doubles title at the World Table Tennis event in 2021.
She was honoured with the Arjuna Award in 2018 and the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in 2020.
Sharath Kamal
Sharath is considered to be a maestro of Indian Table Tennis. He was born on 12th July 1982 in Tamil Nadu. Coming from a family with a strong sporting background, he was introduced to the sport by his father and uncle, both of whom were accomplished players.
Sharath quickly made a name for himself when he bagged a bronze medal at the 2002 National Games of India. Currently, Sharath has the most number of Senior National Championships (ten) under his name. He has made India proud on the international stage.
Sharath has won a whooping thirteen medals (7 gold, 3 silver, 3 bronze) at the Commonwealth Games in men’s singles, men’s doubles, men’s team, and the mixed doubles category. He has won two bronze medals at the Asian Games and three bronze medals at the Asian Championship.
For his contribution and achievements in the sport, Sharath has been honoured with the Arjuna Award in 2004, the Padma Shri in 2019, and the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in 2022.
The journey of Indian Table Tennis is a story of passion, perseverance, and progress. From its humble beginnings to making a mark on the global stage, Indian Table Tennis has come a long way.
As India continues to produce world-class players and achieve greater heights, the dream of seeing an Indian player win an Olympic medal in the sport no longer seems far-fetched. All eyes are on the Indian Table Tennis contingent now who are representing the nation at the 2024 Olympic Games.
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