Sharath Kamal ousts 10th-seeded Australian player from WTT Star Contender

Apart from witnessing high-class table tennis, the growing set of fans of the game in Chennai were able to watch Indian icon Achanta Sharath Kamal, one of the oldest players at the WTT Star Contender Chennai 2025, make little of his age in an aggressive and energetic display to thrash opponents two decades younger than him.

- LAKSHMANA VENKAT KUCHI CHENNAI, 28 MARCH

In the quarter finals of the Men's singles category, Sharath Kamal thrashed Australian player, 23 years younger to him, in straight sets in an indication that there were still a lot of table tennis left in him. Drawing upon his vast array of experience, Sharath used his opponents' strengths—agility and momentum—as his own weapons against the 10th seeded player ranked much above him in the global rankings.

Spreading cheer among the audience, the local 'lad'—for whom Table Tennis began in Chennai and is ending in Chennai as Sharath has already announced his retirement after this tournament—gave a power-point presentation of skills, strength and sagacity to prevail over younger players. His forehand and backhand topspins, loops and drives helped him quickly win two games and going into what became the third and final set in a best of five encounter, he ran up a facile lead in the beginning. His domination was such that Sharath ran up to a five-point lead in the third game, which he closed out at 11-9, to advance into the next round of 16. He was at one point serving at 5-0 in the third game and finished off the came.

The 42-year-old Sharath will play the winner of the match between Yukiya Uda (JPN) and Snehit Suravajjula (IND) in the Round of 16.