India’s Sharath Kamal Achanta won the Men’s Singles title at the United States Open in early July 2010; it was a watershed in his career but arguably not the greatest pivotal moment, that had occurred some years earlier.

There are turning points in the careers of every sportsman and sportswoman; events on which you can look back and earmark as watersheds in a career.

Winning the Men’s Singles title at the United States Open on Sunday 4th July 2010 was for Killerspin’s Sharath Kamal Achanta, a major landmark in his career. Independence Day was a special day for the 29 year old Indian star.

London Bus Theory

It was his first ever Men’s Singles title at an open international tournament and he followed the London bus theory; you wait hours for one bus then two come at the same time.

Well, Sharath Kamal Achanta had to wait years to win his first Men’s Singles title at an open international tournament, then the following week he won again; he won on the ITTF Pro Tour in Egypt.

The win in Grand Rapids at the United States Open had filled him with belief, he knew he could win a Men’s Singles title at a major international open; in Egypt a new confident Sharath Kamal Achanta entered the arena. He entered in gladiatorial fashion, ready for the fray, full of believe that he could defeat any tiger he faced.

Kuala Lumpur

Both wins were turning points in his career but not the biggest; the biggest turning point came six years earlier, at the 2004 Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships in Kuala Lumpur.

Few people outside India had ever heard of Sharath Kamal Achanta; he had never excelled as a junior but had forced his way into the Indian Men’s Team. In Kuala Lumpur he faced England’s Alan Cooke at the quarter-final stage of the Men’s Singles event.

Alan Cooke had won the Commonwealth Men’s Singles title in Cardiff in 1989 and was returning to the fray after being totally burnt out; in the latter years of the 20th century and early years of the millennium he had focused his attentions very much on coaching but the lure of one last hurrah was too great.

In Kuala Lumpur, Sharath Kamal Achanta was too powerful for the consistent ultimate English professional; who, whilst lacking power excelled in rallies. He was like a terrier consistently biting at the opponent’s legs; never allowing the adversary to settle.

Sharath Kamal Achanta duly beat Alan Cooke, who explained to the Indian international immediately after the match that if he continued executing his forehand with such devastating power for the rest of the tournament, he’d win the Men’s Singles title. Alan Cooke was proved totally correct; Sharath Kamal Achanta duly obliged.

It was a pivotal match and two years later in the Australian city of Melbourne, he won the prestigious Men’s Singles crown in the table tennis events at the Commonwealth Games. It was only the second time that table tennis had been included in the quadrennial sporting gathering, the first being in 2002 in Manchester when Nigeria’s Segun Toriola was crowned champion and Sharath Kamal Achnta was not even considered for selection.

Such was the progress Sharath Kamal Achanta had made; such was the importance of his win over Alan Cooke.

Not in Indian Traditional Mode

The power of the tall Indian had brought success and that is where he is very different from other players from a country, where cricket rules and Sachin Tendulkar assumes proportions of deity.

At cricket, the country is renowned for its elegant batsman, its tricky spin bowlers; not for the raw power of an Australian fast bowler who frightens the living daylights out of batsman with sheer speed and ferocity.

Equally, it’s the same in table tennis; the traditional Indian player is fast and furious. Good touch and exquisite feeling are the hallmarks, excelling close to the table, using speed not power to succeed. Sharath Kamal Achanta is the fast bowler, power, demolishing opponents with fearsome attacks.

It is not to suggest that he lacks skill, quite the contrary; in the noble art of blocking and controlling the play he is better by the minute, as he is in the essential skill of service and receive.

However, it’s his power that sets him apart and enables him to do something alien to many from his country, that is beat defensive players; have you ever seen a quality defender from India but you have seen many an Indian struggle against the backspin artist.

Legs for Power and Adulation

Generating the power he exudes is gained by good co-ordination using the upper and lower part of the body in harmony and it is the lower part of his body that attracts attention; it attracts the attention of the female of the species.

No not his backside! Heavens sake let’s be demure.

It’s his legs, ask any women and they’ll tell you he has legs for which Tom Cruise would die! Women swoon and go weak at the knees; George Clooney has nothing on Sharath Kamal Achanta, who surely, when table tennis days are over, can make a more profitable living as the leading man in a Bollywood Movie?

Vanguard

However, for the tall athletic marketing man’s dream, table tennis is centre stage and he is at the vanguard of the sport in India; he is the icon and he is the perfect ambassador for the sport.

Always extremely well mannered true to the best Indian traditions, he conducts himself with dignity in defeat and with humility in victory.

Furthermore, he is taking table tennis in India to new heights; he is the first Indian to win a title of any description on the ITTF Pro Tour and throughout the world of table tennis he is gaining the respect of the very best.

Blow for Blow

At the Asian Championships in Lucknow in November 2009, he was able to match China’s Wang Liqin, three times Men’s Singles World champion, blow for blow; his forehand in particular forcing errors from the Chinese star’s backhand.

In Lucknow he thrilled the crowds, he gave his country the belief that they can compete against the best and in 2010 he has proved that point.

The Men’s Singles champion in Egypt and one week earlier the victor in Grand Rapids Michigan at the United States Open, combine to make one solution to the equation.

Sharath Kamal Achanta has arrived and arrived in style; top gun.