Manav Thakkar and Archana Kamath Ready for First Olympics in Paris 2024

New Delhi, India – Rising table tennis stars Manav Thakkar and Archana Kamath are excited to participate in their first-ever Olympics, supporting their experienced teammates in the team event at the Paris Olympics 2024. This marks the first time India will compete in both men’s and women’s team championships at the Olympics.

India’s women’s team will face Romania in the round of 16 on Monday, while the men’s team will take on China in their opening match on Tuesday. Thakkar and Kamath, both 24, are known for their aggressive style of play and have experience in high-pressure situations from competing on the WTT circuit and in Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT).

Thakkar, formerly ranked No. 1 in the under-21 world ranking, was part of the Indian team that won a bronze medal at the 2018 Asian Games. He expressed his excitement about the Olympics, saying, “I don’t feel any pressure. I am actually looking forward to giving my best in Paris.” Thakkar will play alongside Achanta Sharath Kamal, Harmeet Desai, and Sathiyan Gnanasekaran in the men’s team.

The women’s team includes Manika Batra, Sreeja Akula, Kamath, and Ayhika Mukherjee. Kamath, who has a career-best women’s doubles world ranking of 4 with Batra, said, “I am very honoured and fortunate to be part of the team and I am just looking forward to going all out and giving my best there.” She emphasized that her UTT experience has prepared her for high-pressure competitions.

Both Thakkar and Kamath highlighted their UTT experience as crucial for their international success. Thakkar recalled a significant win against Kristian Karlsson in 2018, which boosted his confidence. Kamath noted that her success in UTT, including winning the women’s doubles title at the WTT Contender Lagos 2024 with Sreeja, has prepared her for the Olympics.

After the Olympics, Thakkar will compete in the IndianOil UTT 2024 in Chennai, facing top international players and his compatriots.