Archana Kamath has decided to retire from table tennis at the age of 24. She was one of the star performers for India in the recently concluded Paris Olympics 2024. India’s women’s table tennis team achieved history at the 2024 Paris Olympics. They progressed past the Round of 16 for the first time in the country’s history. The nation ultimately lost the women’s team fight to Germany in the quarter-finals.
Archana Kamath was the only peddler who won the only game. India lost the match 1-3 and bowed out of the competition. However, she performed amazingly and wanted to reach the semi-finals. However, she is still young to compete in the 2028 edition of the Olympics. But before that, she thought of hanging up her boots for academics. The young paddler has decided to quit table tennis professionally and study abroad.
The 24-year-old has decided to study in the USA. The decision has come as a great surprise. There were rumours that her choice was motivated by a lack of financial rewards. However, the paddler has denied all speculations and revealed that her “passion for academics” drove her to make the decision. She has already gone to the US and studying in Michigan where she did the interview.
Archana Kamath’s brother influenced her to study
Archana Kamath said, “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. My brother works at NASA. He’s my idol and he too encourages me to study. So I make the time to complete all my studies and I enjoy it. I’m good at it too.”
She further added, “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.”
