WTT Star Contender Chennai: Sharath Kamal’s two-decade long journey comes to end with a loss

Sharath Kamal ends illustrious 2-decade career in table tennis, losing to SFR Snehit in farewell match in Chennai.

Sharath Kamal’s two-decade long journey has come to an end at the Nehru Stadium when he lost in the pre-quarterfinals of the WTT Star Contender Chennai at the Nehru Indoor Stadium on Saturday (March 29, 2025).

A journey that began in 1999 in the Asian juniors — he lost in the qualifying — in Chennai has ended in the same city. In his farewell tournament, the 42-year-old lost to 24-year-old SFR Snehit bringing an end to what has been an illustrious career.

The last-16 match, as such, didn’t reach any great heights as both played cautiously, close to the table playing an attacking brand of TT scarcely.

Trailing by two games, Sharath fought back briefly in three games but couldn’t assert his authority. His trademark whiplash backhand and forehand drives from the back of the table were absent on the day.

Whenever there was an attacking duel between the two, it was his younger rival who, mostly, had the last laugh.

Sharath waved his hands to his fans, who had come in quite a large number to see their star play his last match.

Billed as the favourite, Sharath said he knew that it would be a tough contest. “Everybody thought I was the favourite, but I knew the fact that it’s going to be very tough. I was not in the best physical shape having played two matches. But personally, for me, I would have loved to play a foreigner here. Also, for the fact that, you know, then I can go full guns blazing. Against Snehit there’s a lot happening mentally and I am bit of mentor to him,” he said.