Paddler Archana Kamath says 'love for academics' only reason behind her sudden retirement after Paris Olympics

Archana Kamath took the Indian table tennis community by surprise by announcing her decision to step away from the sport on Thursday at just 24 years of age.

What’s even more surprising is the fact that Kamath’s announcement comes less than a month after a historic appearance at the Paris Olympics.

The Bengaluru native didn’t just show up in Paris for the sake of it — she was part of the Indian women’s table tennis team that not only made its Olympic debut, but also won its opening fixture to reach the quarter-finals.

And in the quarters, it was Kamath who had registered India’s sole victory in their 1-3 defeat at the hands of Germany.

It was a massive moment for the 2023 National Games gold medallist to be able to challenge some of the world’s best in the biggest sporting event of them all.

Read | Archana Kamath: From table tennis star to public policy scholar

Kamath, however, would later open up on her tough decision to walk away from the sport. And from the sound of it, it appears as if she already had made up her mind.

“Table Tennis and academics have both been a huge part of my life. I have been equally passionate about both, and I feel that each one of them has fed into and enriched my experience of the other. I took a decision to pursue my higher education after the Paris Olympics, by enrolling in a full-time 2-year Master’s program in Public Policy. I somehow felt inside that now is the time, and that I did not want to postpone my academic pursuits any further.

“Table tennis has given me so much – wonderful relationships, experiences of a lifetime, and most of all, the joy and the honour of representing my beloved Bharat, and an opportunity to give my best and fight for it,” read a statement from Kamath following her decision to retire.

Kamath added she never really thought about financial returns or stability while playing table tennis and representing the country, while clarifying that it was ultimately her love for academics that influenced her decision — which she admitted was not an easy one to make.

“It was not an easy decision for me to make, but if I have retired from competitive table tennis, it is only and only because of my love for academics. TT is an amazing sport that I have had the privilege of playing for a long time, and my love for it continues…

“I have never thought about nor played TT with financial returns in mind. Moreover, I have received so much support over the years – emotional, financial and in every possible way one can think of….” Kamath added.

She signed off with an apology of sorts to the rest of the nation, while adding that she would continue to serve the nation in “whatever little way” she can.

“Finally, to all my fellow Bharatiyas - while I did give my best, I sincerely apologise for not being able to do as much as I wanted to for our country, as an athlete. I do not know what the future holds for me, but I am sure of one thing – I will always try my best to serve our Bharat, in whatever little way I can,” Kamath signed off.