বাংলায় পড়ুন
In a groundbreaking moment for Indian table tennis, both the men's and women's teams have secured qualification for the Olympics for the first time in the sport's history. Sharath Kamal and Sutirtha Mukherjee's team led the charge, clinching spots for their respective teams at the Paris Olympics.
Recently, the table tennis teams participated in the World Table Tennis Championships held in Busan. Despite losses to China and South Korea in the group stage, the Indian teams managed to secure crucial victories against New Zealand and Chile, advancing to the playoffs. Sutirtha Mukherjee's team reached the quarterfinals after defeating Kazakhstan 3-0, while Sharath Kamal's team progressed to the knockout stage by overcoming a tough challenge from Kazakhstan.
Although Mukherjee's team fell short in the quarterfinals, missing out on a direct ticket to Paris, they displayed commendable performance throughout. According to the International Table Tennis Federation rankings released on Monday, India secured Olympic berths based on their rankings—15th for the men's team and 13th for the women's team.
The Paris Olympics will feature five table tennis events: men's singles, women's singles, mixed doubles, men's team, and women's team. India will compete across all five categories, representing the country's growing prowess in the sport.
However, the specific representatives for the singles events are yet to be announced. The Table Tennis Federation of India secretary stated that they have until June 18 to finalise the entries. The anticipation is high to see who will represent India in the singles competitions.
Kamlesh Mehta, the secretary of the Indian Table Tennis Federation, expressed his gratitude to the coaches and players for their tireless efforts, calling this achievement a monumental milestone for Indian table tennis. He emphasised the role of coaches and players in turning the impossible into reality.
The qualification of both men's and women's teams for the Olympics marks a significant leap forward for Indian table tennis, reflecting the sport's growing popularity and success on the international stage. As India gears up to make its mark at the Paris Olympics, all eyes will be on the table tennis teams to continue their impressive journey and inspire future generations of players.
