Sharath Kamal set to hang racquet & bandana

ALL good things eventually come to an end. Table tennis ace A Sharath Kamal's decorated journey is set to end soon as the 42-year-old announced his retirement from the sport on Wednesday.

- ASHOK VENUGOPAL

Sharath said that the upcoming WTT Contender in Chennai, which is scheduled to be held from March 25 to 30, will be his last tournament.

Arguably, India's finest table tennis player, the Chennai-based player has been an inspiration for many. Over the years, the five-time Olympian has been a great ambassador of the game and is still the highest-ranked player in the country. As per the latest World Table Tennis (WTT) ranking list, Sharath—who is ranked 42—is 18 places above Manav Thakkar (60), who is the second-highest ranked Indian player.

During the WTT Contender launch event in the city, Sharath seemed to be at peace while announcing his big decision. "I played my first international tournament in Chennai, I will be playing my last international also in Chennai. This (WTT Contender) will be my last tournament as a professional athlete," he said.