Landmark 2018 fuels Olympic medal hopes for Indian table tennis

Indian table tennis earned the world's respect in a watershed 2018 when the country won a historic two medals at the Asian Games after Manika Batra's unprecedented showing at the Commonwealth Games.

Sharath Kamal, arguably India's finest player who is still going strong at 36, summed up the year aptly.

"At the start of the year, if anyone would have said we will win one, let alone two medals at the Asian Games, I would have laughed it off. It has been that kind of year. Best ever year for me and best ever for Indian table tennis," the veteran told PTI.

The Sharath-led men's team exceeded its own expectations by winning a bronze at the Asian Games in Jakarta after stunning the mighty Japan in the quarterfinals.

His younger teammate G Sathiyan delivered under pressure by winning both his singles against higher-ranked opponents.

The dream run did not end there as Sharath and Manika landed a mixed doubles bronze which has given them the belief that they are good enough to win an Olympic ..