Asian Games | Victory in Jakarta has boosted team's confidence, claims Sathiyan Gnanasekaran
Sathiyan Gnanasekaran has stated that the Asian Games has instilled a positive belief among Indian table-tennis players and given a strong message to other countries that India is among top medallists. Sharath Kamal also mentioned that wins at the Games make him feel more confident during matches.
World No. 40, Sathiyan Gnanasekaran stunned World No. 23 Kenta Matsudaira and Jin Ueda in India’s 3-1 victory over Japan that brought the Men’s team the bronze medal at the Games. He believes that the victory has imbibed a positive belief in the minds of Indian table tennis players and has also sent out a strong message to other countries that India is among the top medallists in Asia.
“This has given a very big belief to us and a strong message to other countries that India is among the top medallists in Asia. It also brings up a lot of hope to win a medal at the Olympics as well. It’s like a mini Olympics here. There are plenty of takeaways from this Asiad. We have won a lot of Commonwealth Games medals but the Asian Games medal will be something very big and will be at the top in the achievement list. Probably, it’s just next to
Gnanasekaran also mentioned how the training along with the Chinese and under good coaches like Costantini has made all the difference.
“The Chinese invited us for a training camp at Chengdu before the Asiad. We got a chance to have a session with their national team players. We also trained with their provincial players, who are also of a good standard. The arrival of coach Massimo Costantini was a big factor. He has put a system in place. We have been going regularly to training camps abroad, playing more Pro Tour events. So, there is a constant focus to get better,” he said.
World No. 35, Sharath Kamal won India's first medal (bronze medal), along with the Men's team at the Asian Games 2018. He also won a bronze with Manika Batra in the mixed doubles category. After getting back from the Asian Games, Sharath Kamal believes that the experience has made him a better player and boosted his confidence.
“The main thing is confidence, it’s the kind of shots [I am playing] and the decisions I am making during the match, how I am reading [the game]. Technically nothing much has changed. The last five months [since 2018 CWG] has been phenomenal,” Sharath, the top-ranked Indian paddler at World No. 35, said at a press conference.
He also believes that this confidence shall help him play better than ever and he also might qualify for more than one event at the 2020 Olympics.
“I will qualify in one event , Now we can make it in men’s team, mixed doubles and men’s singles. And chances are there in 2020 of a medal,” he said.