After three CWG gold medals, my motivation level has shot up: Sharath Kamal

Three gold medals in CWG, including an individual gold that he won after 16 years, made it a mixture of joy and relief for the Chennai paddler. Playing 12 matches over three days might have taken a lot out of him, but Sharath is already looking ahead. “My next target is the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. I wasn’t sure about winning so many medals at CWG but after bagging three gold medals, my motivation level has shot up. Now my primary focus will be the Paris Games,” Sharath, who returned to the city on Thursday morning, told TOI.

On an uncertain journey from 2020 pandemic to CWG podium, Sharath said: “It was probably the toughest phase of our lives. I call it the toughest because it was full of uncertainties. At 37, I wasn’t sure what to do next. It was like driving a car in darkness. It was more of a mental blow than physical. But I didn’t lose heart and kept exploring the options and resources that were available near me. I am thankful to the people who stood by me during that phase. I wouldn’t have achieved this without their help.” Keeping the mind in shape was as big a battle in the last couple of years. “It was a huge mental blow for all of us and like others I was convinced that if I want to return to court with full vigour, I’ll have to make use of this situation. I felt so clueless that I had to seek help from mental toughness coaches. I contacted Dr Swarup from Pune and worked with him for 8 months and then got in touch with Dr Gayatri Varthak who guided me so well. I am still working with Gayatri and I am thankful to both of them for their help during the tough situation,” Sharath explained.

The India paddlers have gone through a tough phase as Table Tennis Federation of India got into legal trouble when the