Sharath Kamal interview: Being the only one to get the Khel Ratna across all sports this year makes it extra special

This has been a busy year for Sharath Kamal. The ace paddler — into his 20th year as a professional — turned back the clock to pocket three gold medals at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games (CWG), won the national championship for a record tenth time, and became the first Indian to become a member of ITTF Athlete's Commission. He also became the vice-chairperson of the IOA's Athlete's Commission, and there's also a small matter of winning the Khel Ratna.

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In this interview, Sharath opens up on his incredible year and the road ahead. Excerpts:

Triple gold at CWG, Athletes Commission, Khel Ratna. Quite a year for you...

Yeah, but I am not complaining! I have been playing well since Tokyo Olympics and managed to carry my form into the CWG. I simply continued my process of preparation. I am very happy with the way I played in Birmingham, especially at this stage in my career. Winning the CWG singles gold after 16 years was a fantastic achievement. The way I prepared and played, the way I won those medals...really happy because everything went to plan. I also won the Nationals for the 10th time, and everybody seems to have forgotten that!

You have been a strong contender for Khel Ratna for a few years now. Being the sole winner this year must be satisfying...

It is. I really didn't have doubts about my chances this year, but to be the only one to get it across all sports is what makes it extra special. A lot of things have changed after CWG. People recognise me on the streets and at the airports. Even though I am such a senior player, it's only now that I am being celebrated the way I should be. TT was never really a popular sport in terms of public recognition, but the way my medals, and the sport in general, was celebrated across India was heartening to see.

A lot of people feel that Khel Ratna has come a bit too late to me, but I don't think that way. Of course, getting it at the age of 40 is not a regular occurrence, but I understand that it is awarded to the best sportsperson in the country, and not just for TT. If you look at what Kidambi Srikant, Neeraj Chopra, or any of the past winners achieved the year they were awarded, it was simply fantastic. In recent times, since 2012, we have been getting Olympic medals and world championship titles, so obviously there are many contenders. Compared to such athletes, I am just a CWG medallist. Only this year I was clearly the best sportsperson in the country across all sports.

You are part of two athlete commissions now (ITTF and IOA). Are you ready to step into governance?

I don't know. But I hope I do my best. The IOA Athletes Commission development was very sudden. It literally bumped into me and I just went with the flow and accepted it. I am still in the process of fully understanding my role here. The ITTF thing has been going on for over a year. A lot of people (from ITTF) were in touch with me about my availability because they feel I will be the right man for the job. I have lived in Europe for 16-17 years, so I understand their mindset. At the same time, I have been the flagbearer of the Asian block, so, I believe I'll be a perfect bridge. I still wonder if I have done the right thing by accepting these roles, but luckily, I have good people around me who will help me sail through.

You spoke about the process of preparation. How has it evolved over the years?

This year, I started training under my younger brother. My father, who coached me earlier, said I was getting difficult to keep pace with. My brother plans my preparation, which is the most crucial part of training. Once that is done, I sit with my fitness coach and chalk out the finer details. Accordingly, diet and nutrition come into play. All this evolution has happened only recently.

Till 2016-17, I had no access to sports science, but somehow, I ended up doing the right things. Now I have a clear scientific logic to what I am doing and that has helped me understand the requirements of my body and game. With age catching up and metabolism slowing down, the threshold levels are too fine. I need to take better care of my body. I have to push myself but not too much to risk injury. With every injury, I can clearly see I am taking a lot of time to recover. My load management has to be spot on. In terms of recovery, I have only recently discovered cryochambers when my doctor in Chennai recommended it. After that, I clearly felt reverse aging in terms of recovery. All that and the learnings from my experience have really helped me a lot.

At the 2014 CWG, I lost out on the medal just because of fatigue. I was too tired from playing four events. Later, I understood that if I have to play four events over a period of 10-12 days, there's a different type of training that I need to do, which is what I am doing now.

From the country's best TT player to a possible career in governance, is the circle of an athlete's life nearing completion?

I think so. Mine will be a legend's story. Two or three generations down the line, people will say there once lived a TT player who achieved all this and this is how he lived. It gives me goosebumps when I say it. When I won the CWG singles gold in 2006, people used to say who is this guy playing with a handkerchief tied on his head. From that to now, I think my story has come a long way. It's been a thrilling ride and I have enjoyed every bit of it.

How do you look at constant references to your age?

It irritates me, to be honest. People keep reminding me that I am 39 or 40, but when you look at me on the table, do you even feel that a 40-year-old is playing? I was one of the fastest and fittest guys at CWG, and the way I was able to move and play, I could well be in my late 20s or early 30s. Many times, I feel too much importance is being given to my age. If I fail, the same argument will be used against me.

What's next for you and what keeps you going?

Asian Games is my next target, but the most important event is Paris 2024. If we can get a medal in the team event, it'll be fantastic. I have achieved a lot in my career and frankly, I can't ask for more, but even a decent go at the medal — reaching the quarters or semis — will be very satisfying. That is one missing piece of the jigsaw to complete my story. I think I can easily push myself till Paris.

As for motivation, I sometimes wonder what keeps me going. I think goal-setting is very important. I set short goals. I can't say whether I will be around for 2026 CWG. Since 2016, I have been taking it two years at a time, so I always have these little goals that are able to push me.

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