Paris Olympian Archana Kamath on quitting table tennis: It is only because of my passion to study

India’s top paddler, Archana Kamath, who quit the sport after representing India at the Olympics, told The Indian Express that she quit the sport purely because of her passion for studying.

“If I have retired from competitive table tennis, it is only and only because of my passion for academics. Having been the recipient of extraordinary support, including financial, I can confidently say, that it wasn’t in any way a financial decision,” she said from Michigan where she is currently studying.

Archana was part of the three-member Indian women’s table tennis team that created history by reaching the quarterfinal of the team event at the Paris Olympics. Archana was the lone warrior in India’s loss against Germany, winning the only match in the tie against a much higher-ranked Xiaona Shan.

The 24-year-old Archana had shocked the TT world by quitting the sport at a time when she was doing well and fast improving. It raised questions about the financial viability of the sport in the country, but Archana says she was well-supported throughout her career.

“I have had a wonderful 15 years with table tennis, and there is no greater honour than getting an opportunity to give my best for my country. The last thing I want to do is pull people away from table tennis. It is an amazing sport that I have had the privilege of playing for a long time and my love for it continues.

“I have received extraordinary support, and I neither have the right nor inclination to complain on that front – doing so would be extremely unfair to the athletes who have really struggled for want of support,” she said, stating that OGQ, TOPS, Indian Oil have supported her journey.

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