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Commonwealth Games champion Sharath Kamal and Manika Batra will lead India's six-member table tennis team at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Kamal, 41, will make his fifth and final Olympic appearance, joined by Manav Thakkar and Harmeet Desai in the men's team. Batra, in her third Olympics, will team up with Sreeja Akula and Archana Kamath in the women's team.India's qualification in both men's and women's team table tennis events marks a historic milestone, as it is the first time the country has qualified in these categories since their introduction in 2008.Sports entrepreneur Vita Dani, chairperson of Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT), expressed optimism about India's chances at the Olympics. She highlighted the improved performances of women paddlers, with Batra and Akula securing crucial wins in the lead-up to the Games. Dani also credited UTT for its role in India's progress in table tennis.Dani emphasized the importance of the Olympics for Indian paddlers, stating that a strong performance would be a testament to their years of hard work. She also discussed the upcoming UTT season, which will run from August 22 to September 7.Dani believes that UTT has created a platform for Indian paddlers, giving them exposure and boosting their self-belief. She pointed to the success of Batra and Akula as evidence of the league's impact on women's table tennis in India.Dani also noted the significance of team play in table tennis, despite its traditional focus on individual competition. She expressed excitement about India's qualification in all categories at the Olympics, setting a new benchmark for the sport in the country.

Indian table tennis star Harmeet Desai believes that the Indian team has the potential to upset any team at the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris. Desai, who played a crucial role in India's gold medal victories in the team competition at the 2018 and 2022 Commonwealth Games, expressed confidence in the team's preparations and their ability to perform at their best in the French capital.The Indian TT contingent made history earlier this year when both the men's and women's teams qualified for the Olympics for the first time. The preparatory camps, held in Bengaluru and Saarbrucken, Germany, focused on developing the perfect combinations for the team events at the Paris Olympics, scheduled from July 26 to August 11."On a given day, I think we really have a very good chance of beating any team. We have won against top teams in the world in the past and it is possible this time also if we give our best. In the Olympics, if all three of us can put on the best show then anything is possible," said Desai in an interview with Ultimate Table Tennis.Desai is part of the Indian men's team along with Achanta Sharath Kamal, Manav Thakkar, and Sathiyan Gnanasekaran. He will also be competing in the individual events. Desai's confidence stems from the fact that the Indian men's team had defeated the mighty Japan in the quarterfinals to clinch the bronze medal at the 2018 Asian Games.Speaking about the rise of Indian table tennis on the world stage, Desai credited the central government's various schemes and the launch of Ultimate Table Tennis in 2017 for the development of the sport. "UTT has helped us get more experience and exposure to play with international players and get guidance from foreign coaches. That was not the case before 2017. So, this kind of experience has helped the players get more self-belief and perform well in the international arena," he said.The Indian men's team will face China in the opening round while the women's team will open their campaign against Romania. The individual events will be played from July 27 to August 4, whereas the team events are scheduled from August 5 to 10.After the Paris Olympics, India's representatives at the Games and upcoming talent from the country will rub shoulders against each other and some international stars in the Ultimate Table Tennis 2024, scheduled to take place in Chennai from August 22 to September 7.

Indian table tennis star Manika Batra, wiser after her maiden Olympics appearance in Tokyo, is determined to take a measured approach in the upcoming Paris Games. Focused on taking one match at a time, she believes a medal will not be her primary concern in the initial rounds.Batra, who played a pivotal role in the women's team qualifying for Paris, has learned valuable lessons from her Tokyo experience. "I've learned from my mistakes and my mindset has changed," she said. "I'm calmer and more confident now."Her training regimen has emphasized stamina and agility, with the ultimate goal of challenging for a medal. However, she emphasizes the importance of a gradual approach. "I'll go round by round and not think of a medal too early," she said. "I'll give my best for my country."Batra's success in the WTT Saudi Smash, where she defeated world-class opponents, has boosted her confidence. She credits the growth of women's table tennis in India to platforms like Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT), which provide young players with invaluable exposure."UTT has helped us practice and play matches against foreign players," Batra said. "We get good match practice."India will compete in both individual and team events in Paris. After the Olympics, Batra and other top Indian paddlers will join international stars in the UTT 2024, scheduled for August 22 to September 7 in Chennai.