Table Tennis: How Archana Kamath fought back a mental block to make the Indian team for Paris 2024
Kamath changed her training base after being snubbed for the 2022 Commonwealth Games and fought an uphill battle to make it to Indian team for Paris Olympics.
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It was an ordinary Thursday evening at the Kamath household in Bengaluru. Archana Kamath, the world No 103 paddler, was enjoying a much needed break from the chaotic world of table tennis.
She was spending time with her family when news trickled in that she had been selected to play for the Indian women’s team at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Her family members rejoiced, but Kamath’s mind raced back to memories of the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
She had been named in the squad that was set to compete in Birmingham, only for a Delhi High Court order which removed her from the team to make way for Diya Chitale. Kamath herself filed a petition with the Karnataka High Court challenging the decision, but it was dismissed and she had to miss out on the Commonwealth Games.
The two years that followed were unpleasant. Kamath went from being ranked as the fourth best women’s doubles pair in the world alongside Manika Batra, to being completely out of favour. Her parents – Girish and Anuradha, formed the first line of defence for Kamath during this tumultuous period.
“It was nice to be with my parents when I first got the news [being named in the Olympic team],” said Kamath in a conversation with Scroll. “They have been very invested...
