NEW DELHI: India’s standout table tennis players, who performed exceptionally on the global stage last year, have secured nominations for the prestigious Times of India Sports Awards (TOISA) 2024. Known for their speed, precision, and relentless drive, these athletes will be celebrated in the men’s, women’s, and para table tennis categories.
With February 22 fast approaching, excitement mounts for the much-anticipated Table Tennis Player of the Year award. The winners will be honored at a grand ceremony in Lucknow, famously known as the ‘City of Nawabs.’
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
This year’s theme, #MoreSweatMoreGlory, highlights the relentless pursuit of excellence by athletes and para-athletes across various sporting disciplines.
The TOISA 2025 Jury comprises of former long-jumper and senior vice-president of AFI, Anju Bobby George; Olympic medal-winning wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt; Former captain of the Indian hockey team, Dilip Tirkey; Paralympic medalist Javelin thrower Devendra Jhajharia; Olympic medallist and boxing champion Vijender Singh.
Here are the nominees for table tennis:
Table Tennis player of the Year-Men
Achanta Sharath Kamal
Date of Birth: July 12, 1982
Place of Birth: Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Sport: Table Tennis
Major Achievements in 2024:
– Paris Olympics – Rd of 16 (Men’s Team), Rd of 64 (Singles)
– Asian Championships – Bronze (Men’s Team)
– World Team Championships – Pre-quarterfinals
Profile:
In his fifth and final Olympic appearance, Sharath Kamal was honoured as one of India’s flag-bearers during the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics. The veteran table tennis player, alongside teammates Harmeet Desai and Manav Thakkar, faced a tough challenge in the men’s team event. Despite their best efforts, the Indian men’s table tennis team was knocked out in the round of 16 by the top-seeded People’s Republic of China. Earlier in the tournament, Sharath Kamal was eliminated in the first round of the men’s singles. However, this Olympics marked a historic moment for India as they qualified for the men’s team event for the first time, having reached the pre-quarters in the World Team Championship. The team also earned a bronze medal in the Asian Championships, showcasing India’s rising prominence in table tennis on the international stage.
Sathiyan Gnanasekaran
Date of Birth: January 8, 1993
Place of Birth: Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Sport: Table Tennis
Major Achievements in 2024:
– Asian Championships – Bronze (Men’s Team)
– World Team Championships – Pre-quarterfinals
Profile:
Date of Birth: January 8, 1993 Place of Birth: Chennai, Tamil Nadu Sport: Table Tennis
Sathiyan Gnanasekaran played a key role in the Indian men’s table tennis team’s success in 2024, contributing signifi- cantly to their bronze medal at the Asian Championships. He was also part of the squad that reached the pre-quarterfi- nals at the World Team Championships, an achievement that secured India’s qualification for the team event at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Although Sathiyan was not part of the final Olympic squad, which included Sharath Kamal, Harmeet Desai, and Manav Thakkar, his performances earlier in the year were pivotal in helping India reach new heights in international table tennis.
Harmeet Desai
Date of Birth: July 19, 1993
Place of Birth: Surat, Gujarat
Sport: Table Tennis
Major Achievements in 2024:
– Paris Olympics – Rd of 16 (Men’s Team), Rd of 64 (Singles)
– Asian Championships – Bronze (Men’s Team)
– World Team Championships – Pre-quarterfinals
Profile:
Harmeet Desai was knocked out in the first round of the men’s singles event at the Paris 2024 Olympics, and the Indian men’s table tennis team, consisting of Sharath Kamal, Harmeet Desai, and Manav Thakkar, suffered a defeat to the top-seeded China in the round of 16. Despite the early exit, India made history by qualifying for the team event for the first time ever in the Olympics, following their impressive performance in the World Team Championship, where they reached the pre-quarters. Earlier in 2024, the team also secured a bronze medal at the Asian Championships, marking a notable achievement in India’s growing table tennis presence.
Manav Thakkar
Date of Birth: April 14, 2000
Place of Birth: Rajkot, Gujarat
Sport: Table Tennis
Major Achievements in 2024:
– Paris Olympics – Rd of 16 (Men’s Team)
– Asian Championships – Bronze (Men’s Team)
Profile:
Date of Birth: April 14, 2000 Place of Birth: Rajkot, Gujarat Sport: Table Tennis
Manav Thakkar, alongside Sharath Kamal and Harmeet Desai, formed the Indian men’s table tennis team that was knocked out in the round of 16 at the Paris 2024 Olympics by the top-seeded People’s Republic of China. Despite the early exit, the team achieved a historic milestone by qualifying for the team event for the first time in Olympic history, following their strong performance in the World Team Championship, where they reached the pre-quarters. Earlier in the year, the Indian team also clinched a bronze medal at the Asian Championships, showcasing their rising prowess on the international stage.
Table Tennis player of the Year-Women
Manika Batra
Date of Birth: June 15, 1995
Place of Birth: Delhi
Sport: Table Tennis
Major Achievements in 2024:
– Paris Olympics – Quarter-finals (Women’s Team), Rd of 16 (Singles)
– World Team Championships – Pre-quarterfinals
– Asian Championships – Bronze (Women’s Team)
– Waldner Cup – Gold (Team Asia)
Profile:
Manika Batra had a remarkable run at the Paris 2024 Olympics, becoming the first Indian table tennis player to reach the singles pre-quarters. She was soon joined by her teammate Sreeja Akula, marking a significant achievement for India. In the inaugural Olympic team event, the Indian women’s team, consisting of Batra, Akula, and Archana Kamath, reached the quarter-finals, showcasing India’s growing presence in the sport. The team also secured a historic bronze at the Asian Championships, marking India’s first-ever medal in the event. Additionally, Batra contributed to Team Asia’s victory at the inaugural Waldner Cup, further cementing her place as one of the faces of Indian table tennis.
Sreeja Akula
Date of Birth: July 31, 1998
Place of Birth: Hyderabad
Sport: Table Tennis
Major Achievements in 2024:
– Paris Olympics – Quarter-finals (Women’s Team), Rd of 16 (Singles)
– World Team Championships – Pre-quarterfinals
– Asian Championships – Bronze (Women’s Team)
– WTT Contender Lagos – Gold (First Indian to win singles title)
– WTT Feeder Corpus Christi – Gold, maiden singles title
– WTT Feeder Beirut II – Gold
Profile:
Sreeja Akula had a standout year in 2024, claiming her first career singles title at the WTT Feeder Corpus Christi in Texas, followed by another at the WTT Feeder Beirut II. She made history as the first Indian to win a WTT Contender title in Lagos, further elevating her status on the international stage. Akula was also a key member of the Indian women’s table tennis team that won a historic bronze medal at the Asian Championships. Her efforts helped the team qualify for their first-ever Olympic team event, where they reached the quarter-finals. Additionally, Akula reached the round of 16 in the singles event at the Paris Olympics, capping off a remarkable year for the young paddler.
Archana Kamath
Date of Birth: June 17, 2000
Place of Birth: Bangaluru, Karnataka
Sport: Table Tennis
Major Achievements in 2024:
– Paris Olympics: Quarter-finals (Women’s Team)
– World Team Championships – Pre-quarterfinals
Profile:
Archana Kamath was a key member of the Indian women’s table tennis team that made history at the Paris Olympics by reaching the quarter-finals, marking the first time the team had advanced past the round of 16. Despite a valiant effort, India’s campaign ended with a 3-1 loss to Germany. This was also India’s debut in the Olympic table tennis team event. Following her remarkable journey, Kamath announced her retirement from competitive table tennis after the Paris Games, choosing to pursue higher education and marking the end of a promising career in the sport.
Sutirtha Mukherjee
Date of Birth: October 10, 1995
Place of Birth: Naihati, West Bengal
Sport: Table Tennis
Major Achievements in 2024:
– Asian Championships: Bronze (Women’s doubles), Bronze (Women’s Team) – both first for India
Profile:
Sutirtha Mukherjee played a pivotal role in India’s landmark success in 2024. She was a vital member of the Indian women’s table tennis team that won a historic bronze medal at the Asian Championships, marking India’s first-ever medal in the event. Sutirtha also made history in the doubles event, securing a bronze alongside Ayhika Mukherjee at the same championships. Her remarkable performances contributed significantly to India’s rising stature in international table tennis.
Ayhika Mukherjee
Date of Birth: June 10, 1997
Place of Birth: Naihati, West Bengal
Sport: Table Tennis
Major Achievements in 2024:
– Asian Championships: Bronze (Women’s doubles), Bronze (Women’s Team) – both first for India
– World Team Championships – Pre-quarterfinals
Profile:
Ayhika Mukherjee played a crucial role in India’s historic achievements in 2024. She was part of the Indian women’s table tennis team that won a groundbreaking bronze medal at the Asian Championships, the country’s first-ever medal in the event. Additionally, Ayhika secured a historic doubles bronze at the same championships, partnering with Sutirtha Mukherjee. She was also instrumental in helping the team qualify for the team event at the Paris Olympics, contributing to their progress to the pre-quarter-finals at the World Team Championships. However, she was not part of the Olympic contingent in Paris.