Major change now is that people around me believe that Olympic medal is possibility, says Sharath Kamal

Before you left for the Asian Games, you were positive about your chances of a medal in one event – men's team. How do you feel getting a bonus medal?

For one, I had already said, 'great chance'. The second, it's out of the world.

Did you sense before the tournament that you could pull off something special with Manika Batra?

Not really, because it was the first time we were playing together. We had literally no idea how things would pan out. Also, I personally didn't see so much of the draw. Most of the times, I was either asking Manika or the coach, 'OK, who are we playing next?' So, it was pretty much like an extempore. I didn't have a lot of time to think, also because on some days, I played four matches a day. I was just playing back-to-back.

You and Manika know each other's game well but playing together is a different ballgame, especially the first time, isn't it? What clicked between the two of you as a mixed doubles pair, that too almost instantly?

Personally, I gave up playing mixed doubles, because mixed doubles is totally dominated by women. If the woman plays well, the man supports. That's how the way of life also is, right? (laughs) That's exactly mixed doubles in table tennis. So, I had given up!

But pairing Manika and I was the idea of our coach at the Commonwealth Games. We both are totally on the opposite sides in terms of our playing style, which normally does not suit a mixed doubles team. But then our coach came up with this idea, that when she stops, I can go for my shots with my power. So we tried it out, and then I felt like, 'OK, it can work'.

Of course, we needed to do a lot of work but then the possibility was there. The negative part was both of us are tall, so both of us need a lot of space on the table. Usually, both of us play with shorter partners but it wasn't the case here. So, I'm glad we overcame that hurdle. But I believe we still have much more in us as a team. If we can work a little harder and practice together, then I think we can make a strong pair.

So, giving up on mixed doubles is a thing of the past for you?

Yes, because the Olympics have the mixed doubles category. So, why not carry on?

It's almost fitting that you and Manika, who have individually changed the scenario of Indian table tennis at different periods of time over the last decade, came together to create another bit of history for the country, isn't it?

Yes. It's so good for the sport. The kind of mileage that we've got after the Asian Games is really phenomenal. What Manika did at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, it was big. But I think table tennis after the Asian Games has become quite popular among kids, coaches, administrators, everyone. And it will only get better from here on. The budgets are going higher -- it's almost close to double now. So with all this, we should be able to build a good ecosystem for the players now.

So, our achievements are good for the sport more than us as individuals. Of course, people know me by now. Only thing, I probably get a drink for free now (laughs).

Apart from the odd free drink, what have these two Asiad medals done to you at this stage of your career? You were hoping for a maiden Asian Games medal, and at 36, you've pretty much achieved whatever there is to in the TT world apart from an Olympics medal. Does this make you relax a bit, sit back and feel satisfied with your career, or adds motivation to keep going higher?

Well, it goes both ways. I have a family who expects me to be home. More than them expecting, I want to be home more. So, that can make me feel like, 'OK, I've won Asian Games medal too, so now I can stay home'. But then there's the other side to it as well. I'm playing my best table tennis at this point of time with close to two years to go for the Olympics. Thus, there's motivation there. So, I'll have to balance it out, and do it perfectly. If I can balance my table tennis and my personal life, then I believe this medal will go a long way.

Go a long way in making you believe that an Olympic medal in 2020 is a real possibility?

Look, for me, I've always thought that an Olympic medal is a possibility. When I won the CWG medal in 2006, my coaches always told me, 'don't be satisfied with this, you're capable of an Olympic medal'. So, the belief was always there inside me. The major change now has been that the people around me believe that an Olympic medal is a possibility.

You have the belief of an Olympic medal, and you spoke about balancing things. What do you think will be the key for you over the next two years in order to be able to achieve your ultimate dream in 2020 Tokyo?

The most important thing is fitness, because the sport is getting faster and more physical. That's the best thing for me, because I've never been fitter than what I am now. So, it has to be the key aspect, apart from being motivated to stay away from family and keep it going, because I've been doing that for the last 12-14 years.

My son is growing up, he is one-year-old, he is starting to walk and run. I missed all of that with my daughter, who is seven now. And, it's happening with my son too. All these years don't come back, do they?

So the dream of an Olympic medal is overriding your emotions as a father. How tough is it to make that choice, especially at your age?

The choice depends more on the family and how much it supports you. Because if my wife says, 'pack your bags and come home', I will pack my bags and go home. Like I said, the woman is the boss. So, if your family supports you in your quest to achieve something, then we can go on.

But my family also needs me now. So, I'll have to balance that, and give myself and my family some more time. My daughter keeps asking me, 'Daddy, why do you have to play matches everywhere else, why can't you just play in Chennai?' What can I tell her?

So, the important thing will be planning, and probably playing lesser number of tournaments. But then I need to hit the peak in those tournaments. That's a big challenge.