Date:08/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/08/stories/2009010854752200.htm

Sport - Table Tennis

Sharath Kamal feeling the pinch

Principal Correspondent

PATNA: The ripple effect caused by the economic recession has had its effect on the sporting world too. India’s table tennis player Achanta Sharath Kamal says he himself suffered because of it when playing for his Spanish club San Sebastian in Madrid.

“I did not get two months’ salary as a lot of sponsors backed out drying the club’s coffers,” he said.

He, however, isn’t worried as he is confident that things will fall in place and the situation will be back to normal soon. “The clubs do not depend on one sponsor alone.

There are many sponsors which have retained their solvency. It is just a matter of time before the clubs get back to their financial stability,” said Sharath.

In India to defend his National title and fulfil his obligation with his employer PSPB, Sharath said he was looking forward to joining German club Ochsenhausen next season.

Among the European leagues, the German league is considered to be the most competitive.

Sharath, who is currently ranked 87th in the world, wishes to try his luck in the elite league.

The deal is yet to be finalised as he wishes to train with the club for a few days before deciding on it.

He has also been entrusted with the task of scouting big international names for the $30,800 Indian Open tournament, which comes up in Indore in March.

The TTFI wishes to use Sharath’s international recognition and his familiarity with players in the professional circuit to ensure a good field in the mini pro-tour event.

Sharath is scheduled to fly back to Madrid almost immediately after the Nationals.