Archana Kamath has switched tables. The young table tennis player who was part of the Indian contingent at the Paris Olympics will now be focusing on academics as she has moved to the US where she will be pursuing a Master’s degree in Public Policy at the University of Michigan.
The India women’s team scripted a first in Paris as they reached the quarter-finals, before losing to Germany. Archana was not only an integral part of the team, she was the only player in her side who won a match against the German paddlers.
She had shown exemplary spirit while winning against a much higher-ranked Xiaona Shan.
But table tennis will take a backseat for the 24-year-old at the moment. Besides her exploits in the sport, Archana has had an excellent academic record — she secured 98.7 and 97 per cent marks in her 10th and 12th Board exams, respectively. This will be her second Master’s degree as she has already completed her postgraduation in International Relations. She has a Bachelor’s degree in economics and plans to return to India after two years and serve the nation, probably as an economist.
Archana was emotional as she explained her decision to leave the sport right after the Olympics, stating that it is not a better financial future that she is seeking.
“I have always liked studying, as much as table tennis. I had inquired about this course in Michigan last year as well, but then we qualified for the Paris Olympics as a team for the first time and I wanted to focus on that.
“Now that the Olympics are done, I want to study more and come back to India after two years and serve the people in a different capacity. My decision has nothing to do with financial returns.
“I have got all the support I have needed while playing for India, which has been the biggest honour,” she said.
Archana has been granted a study leave by her employers Indian Oil.
She comes from a financially secure family of doctors with both her parents being ophthalmologists. Her brother is currently pursuing a PhD in aerospace engineering in the US.
Though her eyes are set on a different career now, Archana said she will always cherish the memories that table tennis has gifted her.
“The best thing about the Olympics was being with seniors like Sharath Kamal and Manika Batra. The environment was so good. I also got to meet Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz. I made memories for life there.
“I have also loved fighting for my country and that is something I will miss the most. I hope to keep playing here (in the US),” she said.
Archana is certain about being a public servant in India after completing her course in Michigan but she is yet to work out the finer details.
“I have always been interested in policy making. The main goal is to serve India. I just want to see how I go about my course. The eventual goal is to come back and serve India.”
So, has she thought deeply about being an economist? “I really admire (economist) Sanjeev Sanyal’s work. His wide range of work inspires me,” Archana, who began attending lectures earlier this week, said.
Whatever the field, one hopes that Archana will serve the country well.