Archana Kamath, one of India’s promising table tennis stars, has made a surprising decision to retire from professional sports following the 2024 Paris Olympics, reported NDTV. At just 24, Kamath had played a pivotal role in leading India’s women’s table tennis team to the quarter-finals for the first time in Olympic history.
Despite the achievement, she has chosen to leave the sport behind and pursue further studies abroad, studying Economics at the University of Michigan, raising important questions about the viability of a career in sports in India.
After the Olympics, where India lost to Germany in the quarter-finals, Kamath had an honest discussion with her coach, Anshul Garg, about her future in the sport. Despite her significant progress and dedication, she decided to shift her focus towards academics. Kamath, who holds a Master’s degree in International Relations, Strategies, and Securities, has always been academically inclined. With her brother working at NASA and her family’s support, she felt that continuing her education would provide a more secure and fulfilling future.
Kamath told Indian Express that her decision to leave professional table tennis and pursue academics was a decision purely taken due to her passion towards academics.
However, her coach, Anshul Garg, has claimed that the sport is still far from becoming a platform of livelihood for players.
“The top players generally don’t have any problem because they get a lot of support. But what about the upcoming players? Yes, they get support in terms of training and equipment. No expense is spared there but what about a livelihood? That gets difficult so Archana’s decision is understandable,” NDTV quoted him saying.
Kamath’s decision brings to light a broader issue that many Indian athletes face: the financial instability of pursuing sports as a full-time career.
While cricket enjoys immense popularity and financial backing in India, other sports often struggle with funding, sponsorships, and visibility. The support provided to top athletes, like Kamath, is commendable, but it is often not enough to guarantee a sustainable livelihood.
Studies have shown that India’s sports ecosystem, beyond cricket, lacks the necessary funding and infrastructure to support athletes.
“There are a lot of talented athletes in India, but many of them can’t make ends meet, which prevents them from reaching their full potential in their chosen sports at an early stage. Additionally, the country’s athletes only have the support of a small number of private-sector sponsors. Because of this persistent lack of resources, India’s athletes have struggled to compete well in elite competitions for a very long time,” writes Ketto.
Archana Kamath’s retirement is a reminder that while India is making strides in sports, much more needs to be done to ensure that athletes can build secure and rewarding careers.