Indian Table Tennis Stars Shine in Paris Olympics, Sharath Kamal Exits Early

Indian table tennis veteran Achanta Sharath Kamal was knocked out of the Paris Olympics men's singles competition, while Manika Batra and Sreeja Akula advanced in their respective categories. Kamal, ranked 40th in the world, lost to Slovenia’s Deni Kozul. Manika Batra and Sreeja Akula registered commanding victories, advancing to the round of 32.

Indian table tennis veteran Achanta Sharath Kamal made a shock exit from the Paris Olympics men's singles competition, despite being ranked 40th globally. Kamal lost 2-4 in a 53-minute match to Slovenia's Deni Kozul, who is ranked 126th in the world.

In contrast, India's star woman player, 29-year-old Manika Batra, began her campaign with a dominating 4-1 win over Britain's Anna Hursey. This victory equalled Manika's performance at the Tokyo Olympics, where she also reached the round of 32.

Adding to India's triumphs, Sreeja Akula, the highest-ranked female paddler, advanced comfortably to the next round with a clinical 4-0 win over Sweden's Christina Kallberg. Sreeja's commanding performance underscores the rising talent in Indian table tennis.

(With inputs from agencies.)