Archana Kamath, a key player in India’s table tennis team at the 2024 Paris Olympics, has made the surprising decision to leave the sport in pursuit of long-term financial security and further education in the United States. The 24-year-old paddler, who was instrumental in helping the Indian women’s team reach the quarterfinals for the first time in Olympic history, has decided to shift her focus from sports to academics.
Kamath’s impressive performance in Paris saw her stand out as the only Indian player to win a game in the quarterfinal match against Germany, where she defeated the higher-ranked Xiaona Shan. Despite her efforts, the Indian team ultimately lost the match, marking the end of their Olympic journey.
The decision to step away from the sport came after Kamath consulted with her coach, Anshul Garg, about her prospects of winning a medal at the next Olympics in Los Angeles. Garg explained to her that while it was possible, it would require immense hard work, given her current world ranking outside the top 100. However, it became clear that Kamath had already made up her mind to pursue a different path.
“I told her that it’s difficult. It’s going to take a lot of hard work. She’s ranked outside the top 100 in the world, but she improved so much in the past couple of months. But I think she had already made up her mind to go. And once she makes up her mind, it’s difficult to change it,” Garg shared with The Indian Express.
Archana’s father, Girish Kamath, emphasized that his daughter has always been academically oriented. Throughout her table tennis career, she has maintained a strong focus on her studies, graduating in Economics and recently completing the requirements for a Master’s degree in International Relations, Strategies, and Securities. Girish Kamath further explained that Archana felt it was the right time to pursue her other passion—full-time studies—after dedicating more than 15 years to table tennis.
“Archana has always been academically oriented and all along her TT career has pursued her studies with graduation in Economics and has recently completed the requirements for a Master’s degree in International Relations, Strategies, and Securities. Having played table tennis with so much dedication and passion for more than 15 years, which culminated in her representing our country at the Olympics, she felt it was time for her to pursue her other passion—full-time studies. She has taken this difficult step with absolutely no regrets and after having given her best for the sport and the country,” he said.
Kamath’s decision to transition from sports to academics highlights the challenges athletes often face in securing long-term financial stability, particularly in sports where sponsorship and funding are limited. Her choice to pursue education in the United States is a testament to her foresight and commitment to building a secure future beyond her athletic career.
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