Sharat Kamal becomes first Indian paddler to qualify for Tokyo Olympics

Veteran Achanta Sharath Kamal became the first Indian paddler to qualify for the Tokyo Olympic Games following a major victory over Pakistan’s Muhammad Rameez in the Asian Olympic qualification tournament in Doha on Thursday. The veteran Indian beat Rameez 11-4, 11-1, 11-5, 11-4 over 22 minutes in the second men’s singles round-robin match in the South Asia group. Kamal lost his first match 9–11, 13–15, 11–5, 11–7, 12–10, 9–11, 8–11 to compatriot Gnanasekaran Sathiyan. A win over Rameez ensured at least second place for Kamal and was enough to secure a spot in the delayed games starting in July.

A quota is awarded to another player with the highest rank in the event. Sharath, being the top-ranked player in the group, gets a berth under the Asian quota.

This will be Kamal’s fourth appearance in the Olympic Games. “It was a good match against Sathiyan but I made some mistakes and he capitalized on them to win the match. I was a little nervous before playing against Rameez as I had never faced him before.

“But after the first few matches I was confident that my strategy was working and I executed it well to maintain control,” said world number Sharath.

The 38-year-old Sharath said that considering 2020 as a thug, it is a great relief. “A lot of things have happened since March 2020. I became the champion in Oman and was in good touch, preparing to play a qualification match in Thailand in just two weeks and suddenly everything came to a standstill.

“I have achieved the best ranking of my career and it is a huge relief especially this year’s relief. Although this will be my fourth Olympics, it will be my best Olympic game.”

In search of a safe dual qualification, Sharath made it to the semi-finals in the mixed doubles with Manika Batra in the quarter-finals and the pair beat Mohammed Abdulwahab of Qatar and Maha Farmarji of Qatar 11-6, 11-6, 11-2, 11 Defeated -3. .

Promoted

The star Indian pair, who said goodbye in the first round, will now take on Singapore’s Kon Pang Yew An and Ye Lin in the last four matches on Friday.

Sathiyan is also just one win away from joining Sharath in qualifying for the Tokyo Games as he will take on Rameez in the final round robin South Asian group game tonight.