Old warhorse Sharath breaks into top-30 of ITTF rankings

Veteran table tennis player Sharath Kamal has broken into the top-30 of the ITTF rankings while teammate G Sathiyan has jumped four places to reach a career-high 31st position.

With 36-year-old Sharath and the much younger Sathiyan achieving a career-best rankings, the year has gotten better for Indian table tennis. Sharath held the 31st spot in the rankings for October and November before gaining a place in December.

In a path-breaking year, India won an unprecedented two bronze medals in the Asian Games held in Jakarta.

Sharath and Sathiyan led India to a men's team bronze before another unexpected bronze came when Sharath and Manika Batra finished in the top-four of the mixed doubles competition.

The other Indian in the top-100 of the men's rankings is Harmeet Desai (100).

Manika has gained a place to be 52nd in the women's rankings and remains the sole Indian in the top-100.

India had also produced their best ever showing at the Commonwealth Games by winning eight medals, ...