ACHANTA Kamal

Grip
Shakehand (ITTF, 02 Aug 2016)

Style of play
Attack (ITTF, 02 Aug 2016)

General
PLAYING IN GERMANY
He first played for German club Borussia Dusseldorf in the 2011/12 season. He says playing overseas has been vital in improving and maintaining his knowledge of the sport. "Until I came to Germany, I was winning because of my natural talent and hard work. I had limited knowledge of the game which also reflected in my playing style. I got to understand the what, why and how of table tennis. Additionally, despite ageing, I am able to keep up with the competition, and adapt to the new generation's game and the players. I was able to learn the intricacies of the sport from legends and their secrets to success." (sportstar.thehindu.com, 09 Jan 2021; olympicchannel.com, 15 Dec 2020; ittf.com, 30 Apr 2017)

He was part of the team that won India's first ever medal in table tennis at the Asian Games, when they won bronze in the men's team event at the 2018 edition in Indonesia. At the same event, he also won India's first mixed doubles medal at an Asian Games when he took bronze with partner Manika Batra. (SportsDeskOnline, 20 May 2021)

Along with teammates Subhajit Saha and Datta Shibaji, he won India's first ever Commonwealth Games gold medal in table tennis when the trio triumphed in the men's team event at the 2006 Games in Melbourne, VIC, Australia. Six days later at the same Games he won India's first Commonwealth Games gold medal in a singles event. (SportsDeskOnline, 20 May 2021)

At the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India, he and playing partner Subhajit Saha won gold in men's doubles, which was India's first Commonwealth Games gold medal in a doubles event. (SportsDeskOnline, 20 May 2021)

He became the first Indian player to win an event on the Pro Tour, when he won the Egypt Open in Cairo in July 2010. (SportsDeskOnline, 29 Jul 2018; ittf.com, 15 Mar 2020; ittf.com, 17 Dec 2010)