India's Table Tennis Dream: Breaking into Olympics with High Hopes

India's men's and women's table tennis teams will compete in the Olympics for the first time in Paris after entering the top 16 rankings. Despite success at Commonwealth Games, the team aims for Olympic glory. Coach Massimo Costantini emphasizes the need for higher consistency and technological aid for better performance.

India will make a historic appearance in the men's and women's table tennis team event at the upcoming Paris Olympics, marking their debut after climbing into the top 16 in the international rankings. However, coach Massimo Costantini remains ambitious, striving for even higher standards.

Although India has seen success at the Commonwealth Games, their Olympic and Asian Games performances have lagged. This qualification renews hopes for a first-ever Olympic medal, with the Indian men's team holding the 14th spot and the women's team ranked 11th globally as of July. Costantini aims for an even higher ranking to ensure a more secure qualification in future events.

A shining prospect for India is Manika Batra, the 2018 Commonwealth Games champion, who achieved a career-high ranking of 24 after winning the Saudi Smash. Batra and Sreeja Akula have been instrumental in India's rise. Costantini highlights the need for consistent performance and has integrated artificial intelligence and sports analytics to fine-tune the team's strategy. The table tennis tournament at the Paris Olympics is slated for July 27 to August 10 at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles.

(With inputs from agencies.)