Archana Kamath, who represented India at the Paris Olympics, has made the surprising decision to retire from table tennis to focus on her studies. The 24-year-old athlete competed in the women’s table tennis team event in Paris, where she, alongside Sreeja Akula and Manika Batra, helped India reach the quarterfinals. Despite the team’s 1-3 loss to Germany, Archana was the only Indian player to secure a win in the quarterfinals.
According to a report by the Indian Express, Archana informed her coach, Anshul Garg, of her decision and shared that she plans to pursue higher studies in the United States. While initial speculation suggested concerns about the economic viability and the uncertain future of table tennis players in India, Archana clarified to the newspaper that her decision was driven by her passion for academics.
“If I have retired from competitive table tennis, it is solely due to my passion for academics. I have received tremendous support, including financial assistance, so I can confidently say that my decision was not influenced by financial factors,” said the 24-year-old paddler.
Archana is currently in Michigan, USA, pursuing her higher studies. Her brother, whom she considers an “idol,” works at NASA and has always encouraged her academic pursuits. Archana’s father, Girish, shared with the national daily that she has completed her graduation in Economics and recently fulfilled the requirements for a Master’s degree in International Relations, Strategies, and Security.
“My goal has always been to give my best for my country. The last thing I want is to discourage anyone from pursuing table tennis. It’s an incredible sport that I’ve had the privilege of playing for many years, and my love for it remains strong.
“I have received extraordinary support, and I have neither the right nor the desire to complain—doing so would be unfair to athletes who have genuinely struggled due to lack of support,” she said.
Commenting on Archana’s retirement, national coach Massimo Costantini expressed that while he wasn’t surprised, he emphasized the need for a stronger system to encourage young athletes to view table tennis as a viable career.
“When I saw Archana competing, I thought, ‘We’ve gained another valuable player in our Indian table tennis mosaic.’ I was always aware of her strong focus on academics, so her decision didn’t surprise me much, but I respect it,” said Costantini.
“We need to build a stronger system to make sports a viable career path. We must also consider how to ensure a brighter future for those athletes who dedicate a significant part of their lives to representing their country.”
