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Sharath Kamal Achanta won the Oman Open in March this year despite playing under anxiety and his family concerns as the coronavirus pandemic was starting to spread. This win at 37 shows his longevity in Table Tennis is no mean feat. He was already 20 years old when he played at the national level, considered usually to be a late start. But he has since gone on to become the first Indian table tennis player ever to become nine times Senior National Champion and won medals at Commonwealth Games and Asian Games, and represented India at three Olympic Games. He is also the first table tennis player to be awarded the Padma Shri and through his career given huge visibility to the sport. Despite starting with no recognition as a junior player and an injury that almost put a stop to his playing days at the age of 32, Sharath's career has exemplified the importance of grit and patience for an athlete. Listen to his fascinating journey despite the heartbreaks, hitting rock bottom and bouncing back. You can check out the Maharani Talks on Instagram at www.instagram.com/maharanitalks MUSIC: Lights by Sappheiros https://soundcloud.com/sappheirosmusic Show Notes: • Dealing with pandemic during the Oman Title win [01:54] • Picking up the sport at the age of two [07:18] • Hitting a low point in his career [16:00] . Dealing with rejection and a bad patch in playing [22:33] . Coming back from an injury that derails his playing days [25:37] . What has kept him going in his long career? [35:25] . The need to win big tournaments to bring visibility to the sport [39:46] . Managing fitness during lockdown [42:51] . Supporting the Table Tennis fraternity during this crisis [46:37]