Asian Games is equivalent to World Championship or Olympics in TT, says Madhurika Patkar

Asian Games is equivalent to World Championship or Olympics in TT, says Madhurika Patkar

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UTT

Madhurika Patkar believes that the Asian Games is equivalent to World Championship or Olympic Games as the top countries in the sport are from Asia. She also stressed the importance of fitness and how she learned to maintain fitness from foreign players participating in Ultimate Table Tennis.

Patkar was part of the Indian women’s team that created history in the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games winning the team event. Riding high on confidence, Patkar is optimistic of a finishing in top-four in the upcoming Asian Games in Jakarta- Palembang. The paddler compared Asian Games to World Championship or Olympic Games as the event is graced by the presence of top table tennis nations which makes it difficult to finish in top four.

“[In table tennis] Asian Games is equivalent to World Championship or Olympic Games. Because in Asian Games countries – China, Japan, Korea, Chinese Taipei, Singapore – come and these are the top countries in the world. It will be a very good tournament and the level of competition will be highest.” Patkar told PTI on Thursday.

However, Patkar believes that if the team takes confidence from beating former World Champions Singapore and carry the momentum in Asiad, they can better their best results at the Games.

“Till now we have reached upto the quarter finals [in the Asian Games]. If we could make it in the top four, it will be great. Why not, the team is in good form, they are confident. I feel we should capitalise on this.”

“It will be difficult but it is not impossible because we have created history in Commonwealth Games by beating 2010 World Champions Singapore and we could do this one more time. If we take this confidence and play there, then anything is possible,” said Patkar. 

The 31-year-old former national singles champion, who currently plays for Maharashtra United in the Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) explained how physical fitness matters and how she learned from her international compatriots to maintain it during matches. 

“The UTT experience is good and there is much to learn. Basically, there are top players of the world (in the league). I know that physical fitness is important for the game but when the matches are going on how they maintain physical fitness – that is an important thing which I learnt here.”

“What happens to me is that when I am home or at the camp, my physical fitness is good. My game relies a lot on physical fitness, but when I go for matches, there is no physical training. But I am seeing that they (foreign players), allot some time for physical fitness and that is a big thing I learnt from them. Our game (depends) on physical and mental fitness,” she explained.

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