Sharath Kamal's Olympic Journey: German Coach and Brother Team Up for Paris

Sharath Kamal, India's veteran table tennis star, is preparing for his fifth and final Olympic Games in Paris. At 42, he recognizes the importance of staying sharp and pushing himself beyond his comfort zone. To achieve this, he has enlisted the help of German coach Chris Pfeiffer and his younger brother, Rajath Kamal.

Chris, who previously coached the German under-21 national team, emphasizes the need for Sharath to improve his backhand. "At your age, it's hard to cover the whole table with just your forehand," he says. "So we have to work on your backhand, make that our goal for the Olympics."

Sharath acknowledges the value of Chris's guidance. "I need somebody to keep pushing me, getting me out of my comfort zone. Chris is that guy. To keep moving and to stay active is the German way."

Rajath, a former player turned performance analyst, provides Sharath with technical insights and helps him break down old habits. "Since I've been playing the game for a long time, certain old habits linger," says Sharath. "But the game has changed. So, he sits down with videos of my play, breaks down those old habits and says 'okay we can't be doing that any longer'."

The sibling dynamics between Sharath and Rajath can sometimes be challenging. "Obviously Rajath has a lot of respect for me as a player," says Sharath. "But I want him to tell me what he really thinks."

Despite the occasional sibling rivalry, Rajath's calm demeanor helps Sharath stay focused. "What's best about him is he's really calm, so it also helps me stay calm when he's around," says Sharath.

Chris and Rajath will both be by Sharath's side in Paris. Chris admires Sharath's dedication and perseverance. "For an athlete of his age to push himself toward a fresh goal is just so inspiring to watch," he says. "I can't say there are too many like him."

Tags: #SharathKamal, #TableTennis, #Olympics, #ChrisPfeiffer, #RajathKamal