Happy that I have entered the top 25 in the world for the rst time
My aim is to play my best, to be able to implement what I’ve planned and practised; everybody says, ‘you will feel the pressure once you enter the Stadium’ but despite the pressure, I should be able to implement my plans and do what my coach said
Along with Manika Batra, Sreeja Akula will carry India’s hopes on her shoulders for women’s table tennis at the Paris Olympics. The 25-year-old recently overtook Manika to become India’s top-ranked female paddler in the world ranking charts.
After a ne performance in the World Table Tennis (WTT) Contender tournament in Lagos last month, where she won the singles and doubles (with Archana Kamath) titles, Sreeja jumped to her career-best World ranking of 24 (now she has now dropped a spot to No.25). She thus became the rst Indian woman to claim a Star Contender title.
That Sreeja’s peak performance came a week after she honed her skills at the National camp in Bengaluru with national coach Massimo, alias Max, Costantini keeping a close watch indicates that the 2022
Commonwealth Games mixed doubles gold medalist is peaking at the right time.
Somnath Ghosh, Sreeja’s personal coach, attributed her success to "meticulous hard work” put in by his ward.
“This year has been Sreeja’s year, where she won three singles titles: two WTT Feeder crowns and a WTT Contender title. We have worked on several areas,” said Somnath.
“She was unstable in backhand block. So, we changed her grip a bit. That way, powerful shots from her opponents she can block well. We have worked on deceptive top spins and forehand receives. Sreeja is now almost a complete player.”
In this exclusive interview, Sreeja – supported by the Dream Sports Foundation – talks about what being India No. 1 means and her expectations at the Paris Olympics.
You are ranked India No. 1 in International rankings and it is your best-ever ranking at 24 in the world. What do you make of it?
I am happy that my world ranking has improved. I was India No.1 in March too but that was just for a week. I am happy that I have entered the top 25 in the world for the rst time. Ranking is just a number. My focus is to keep improve my game and skills. It is not just on rankings. If I think only about rankings, it might add up to my pressure. My next aim is to be in world’s top 20.
Will we see a new Sreeja at the Paris Olympics?
Ha ha ha (laughs). There are no major changes in my game. I just want to play my best.
Recently, ve Indian women paddlers — Sreeja (WR 25), Manika (28), Sutirtha Mukherjee (78), Yashaswini Ghorpade (80) and Ayhika Mukherjee (90) — have entered the top 100 in world rankings. How do you see the growth of women TT players?
It is a very positive growth for India. It is something really great. And I think we can expect more from girls in the future. The juniors are doing well in domestic tournaments. In fact, juniors are producing upset wins over senior players and winning the tournament. And there is a healthy competition between junior and senior paddlers. Moreover, everybody is getting exposure thanks to TOPS and other private sponsors.
How did the National camp in Bengaluru go?
It was a 10-day camp. I was happy that Somnath sir was there. Foreign coach Max was there. When Somnath sir is there, I am happy. He will accompany me to Germany and Paris. I tried hard to get Field of Play (FOP) access for him at the Paris Olympics, but we only managed to get accreditation for him to get in at the training hall only. At the
National camp in Bengaluru, we tried out dierent combinations for doubles.
Can you tell us how was it playing doubles and winning the title with Archana Kamath?
I was very comfortable with Archana. However, in the Olympics, we will decide our combinations based on our opponents. It also depends on the draw, too. We have to give the composition of the team two hours before the match.
You are o to Saarbrucker in Germany on July 11 (and leave for Paris on July 21 from Saarbrucker) for the next National camp. What is the plan?
I don't know much about the plans. I am happy that Somnath sir is with me. We hope we will get good sparring partners. This is my rst visit to the city. All I know that there is a big Olympic Centre in Germany.
What are your expectations from the Paris Olympics?
Frankly, it depends on the draw. But my aim is to play my best, to be able to implement what I’ve planned and practiced. Everybody says, ‘you will feel the pressure once you enter the Stadium’. Despite the pressure, I should be able to implement my plans and do what my coach said.
Massimo Costantini, India’s foreign coach, has been in the National camp in Bengaluru. What has been
your experience with him?
It’s been only a month since he came to India. We had a 10-day camp in Bengaluru. His vast experience of training several International paddlers will come in handy in Paris. I cannot tell anything now. It is too early to say something. I believe Max will be of great help in team events.
This is your rst title at the WTT Contender level. How was it?
Actually, in the singles quarternals and seminals I had to play against Indians, Yashaswini and Sutirtha respectively, which you all know, is tricky as each knows the other’s game really well. If two Indians are playing, coach cannot sit and give instructions. So, we have to think for ourselves, plan during the match and play. I was condent as I have played them so many times. For the nal against China’s Ding Yijie, Somnath sir helped me strategise the previous night. Max was there to help in the nal as well.
What were the key learnings at Lagos?
Mainly, I learnt that when I am condent, I can implement what I’ve planned. I have to be mentally strong, positive and focus hard. Against Sutirtha Mukherjee in the seminals, I was 7-10 down in the decider. I was able to pull o the comeback. That has given me lots of condence that whatever the scores I can come back.
This is the rst time you were seeded (fourth) in a WTT Contender tournament. How was the feeling?
I felt happy. But it really doesn’t make a dierence whether you are seeded or not seeded. Each match is tough. In fact, I played against Indians which was tougher. But I think the title came at the right time before the Olympics.
At the camp, did you discuss about the other countries’ strength and weaknesses at Paris Olympics. Can you share it with us?
We did not discuss anything. Actually, anything can happen in Olympics. If you see the way we played against China in the World team championships in Busan early this year, you will know why I say this. The toughest teams are China, Japan and Korea. But we should be able to give our best.
What you think are the improvements you made for the Paris Olympics?
There has been a clear focus on strength and conditioning. The key is to stay injury-free at Paris. I had many sessions with mental coach Gayatri Vartak doing dierent breathing exercises. I did quite a few counselling sessions to ensure that I stay condent during the match.
There was special concentration on my forehand, especially the rst ball attack and ways to give variations to it. I am focusing on defence.
Is there a change in mindset now that you are India’s top paddler?
There is no change in mindset whatsoever. Whatever match I play, I have to focus on my game and not focus on whom I am playing.
The key is to stay injury-free at Paris. I had many sessions with mental coach Gayatri Vartak doing di erent breathing exercises. I did quite a few counselling sessions to ensure that I stay condent during the match